CERBEKUS RHYNCHOPS. 279 



Cerberus rhtnchops. 



Russell, Ind. Serp. ii. p. 43. pi. 40, i. pi. 17. 

 Hydrus rhynchops, Schneid. Hist. Amph. i. p. 246. 

 Elaps boaeformis, Schneid. Hist. Amph. p. 301. 

 Hurria schneideriana, Baud. Rept. v. p. 281. 

 Cerberus obtusatus, Cuv. Reyne Anim. 



cinereus, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 64, and Viper. Snakes, p. C4. Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, 



p. 54. 

 Homalopsis schneideri, Schleg.Phys. Serp. ii. p. 341. pi. 13. figs. 6, 7. 



rhynchops. Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 94. 



Cerberus boeeformis, Dtmi. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 978. 



Scales in twenty-three or twenty-five rows*, strongly keeled. Ventrals 132-148 ; sub- 

 cauclals 54-57 (-72, Cantor). The two anterior frontals together as large as one of the 

 posterior; vertical generally broken up into smaller shields, sometimes perfect, elongate. 

 Loreal as large as, or larger than, one posterior frontal, extending on to the upper surface of 

 the snout. One prseocular, sometimes split into two ; two postoculars, one infraocular. 

 Nine or ten upper labials, the fifth being below the infraocular ; some (two to four) of the 

 hinder upper labials split transversely into two. Temporals scale-like. Three pairs of chin- 

 shields, of which the anterior are the largest, broadest in front and tapering behind ; the 

 second and third pairs are wedged in between the front pair and the lower labials. Upper 

 parts blackish ash, with irregular, more or less distinct black cross bars ; the two or three 

 outer series of scales yellowish. Lower parts whitish, with numerous more or less confluent 

 black blotches, the black colour being generally predominant over the ground-colour, and 

 sometimes throwing up short vertical bars into the yellow lateral band. Labials spotted 

 with black. 



This species has a wide geographical range, as it inhabits not only the large islands of the 

 East Indian archipelago, but also Ceylon, the peninsula of India, Bengal, the Malayan 

 peninsula, and Siam. It is not known whether it occurs far inland ; according to Cantor it 

 is numerous in the Malayan countries in rivers and estuaries, and occasionally along the sea- 

 coast. Its usual size is between 2 and 3 feet, the tail being one-fifth of the total length ; 

 but it attains to nearly 4 feet. The female brings forth eight living young, 7-7^ inches in 

 length. 



* A single specimen from Pinang has the scales in twenty-one rows in the middle of the body. 



