DENDEOPHIS CAUDOLINEATA. 297 



Dendrophis picta. 



Coluber pictus, Chn. Syst. Nat. \. p. 1116. 



Russell, Ind. Serp. ii. tab. 25 & 26. 



Coluber decorus, Shmv, Zool. iii. p. 538. 



Leptophis mauiar, Bell, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 329. 



Alisetulla bellii, Gray, Ind. Zool. c. fig. 



Dendrophis boii, Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 53. 



picta, Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 228. pi. 9. figs. 5-7. Giinth. Coliibr. Snakes, p. 148. 



Leptophis pictus, Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 83. 



Scales smooth, elongate, in fifteen rows, those of the vertebral series being considerably 

 larger than the others, and sometimes of a hexagonal form. Ventral shields 160-187; 

 anal bifid; subcaudals 100-150. Loreal narrow and elongate ; one prseocular, extending on 

 to the upper surface of the head, but not reaching the vertical ; two, sometimes three, post- 

 oculars ; nine upper labials ; maxillary teeth subequal in size ; the two or three anterior 

 teeth of the lower jaw distinctly longer than the others. Eye of moderate size. Bronze 

 or brown above, sometimes with a yellow vertebral line on the front part of the trunk ; 

 a yellow band runs along each side, along the outer series of scales, and has a black or 

 blackish edge either below, or above and below — the upper black margin being the continu- 

 ation of a black band which commences behind the eye. Lower parts white or yellow. 



This tree-snake is one of the most common species in almost every part of the East Indies. 

 Variations occur not only in the coloration, but also in the form of the shields of the head 

 and of the vertebral scales. In specimens from Siam the occipitals are obtusely rounded 

 behind, in those from Ceylon somewhat pointed and divergent. The temporal shields vary 

 much in number and shape. 



Its food consists of lizards and frogs. When old it is rather ferocious and bites readily ; 

 it attains to a length of 4 feet, the tail being not quite one-third. 



Dendrophis caudolixeata. 



Ahsetulla caudolineata. Gray, Ind. Zool. c. tab. 

 Leptophis caudalineatus. Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 85. 

 Dendrophis octolineata, Dum. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 201. 



picta. Motley if Dillwyn, Labuan, p. 46. 



caudoliueata, Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 150. 



Scales smooth, elongate, in fifteen rows, those of the vertebral series scarcely larger than 

 the others; those on the neck with a single apical groove. Ventral shields 183-188; anal 

 bifid; subcaudals 105-110. Occipitals rounded behind. Loreal narrow, rather elongate; 

 one prseocular, extending on to the upper surface of the head, but not reaching the vertical ; 

 two postoculars. Nine upper labials, the fifth and sixth forming the lower part of the 

 orbit. Temporals large, 2 + 2, the two anterior in contact with the oculars; there is gene- 

 rally a small piece detached from the lower anterior temporal, situated immediately behind 



2q 



