262 OPHIDIA. 



front, longer than broad, and at least as long as posterior; occipitals of moderate length, 

 rounded behind. One prseocular, reaching to the upper surface of the crown ; three post- 

 oculars. Loreal quadrangular, as high as long. Nine upper labials, the fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth of which enter the orbit. Temporals 2+2, the two anterior being in contact with the 

 postoculars. Each maxillary is armed with about twenty-one closely-set teeth, the posterior 

 being but little larger than those in the middle, and all forming one continuous series. 

 Upper parts uniform blackish brown, sides lighter, and on the anterior part of the body 

 yellowish (probably red during life) ; a series of large triangular black spots, with the points 

 resting upon the ventral shields, runs along each side of the trunk and tail ; belly uniform 

 whitish, some ventral shields with a blackish posterior margin ; all the upper labial shields 

 have either a black posterior margin or, at least, a black spot. 



This species is found in Java, Sumatra, and Borneo ; we have also received a specimen 

 which is undoubtedly from Pinang. It attains to a length of about 30 inches. 



Tropidonotus macrophthalmus. (Plate XXII. fig. C.) 



Xenodon macrophthalmus, Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 58. 



Head, trunk, and tail of moderate length ; eye large. Scales in nineteen rows, much 

 imbricate, those on the neck and anterior part of the trunk disposed in transverse rows as 

 in Naja. Ventrals 162-165 ; subcaudals 78. Anterior frontals obtusely rounded in front. 

 One praeocular, just reaching to the upper surface of the crown; three postoculars. Loreal 

 large, quadrangular, as high as long ; eight upper labials, the fourth and fifth entering the 

 orbit, the seventh the largest. Temporals rather irregular, two being in contact with the 

 postoculars. Each maxillary is armed with twenty small teeth, the last being much larger 

 than the preceding, from which it is not separated by an interspace *. Brown or blackish 

 brown above, uniform or with a dorsal series of reddish-brown spots ; neck with an indistinct 

 arrow-shaped mark. Anterior part of the belly with large quadrangular blackish-brown 

 spots, posterior part and lower side of the tail more or less clouded with brown. 



Young specimens have indistinct square dark spots on the back, arranged in quincunx, 

 and a bright-yellow collar broadly edged with black. 



This species may be at once distinguished by its large eye and by its dilatable neck, the 

 scales of which show an arrangement very similar to that of a Cobra, for which it is fre- 

 quently taken. All the specimens I have seen shoAV vuimistakeable signs that their captors 

 considered it best to kill them from a distance, and to inflict a death-wound as near to 

 the head as possible. It is a Himalayan species, being found in Khasya and Sikkim — in the 

 latter country at an elevation of 4000 feet. It attains to a length of 39 inches, the tail 

 measuring 7 inches. 



* In 'the specimen of which I formerly examined the dentition, two of the small hinder teeth are lost^ 

 so that a toothless interspace appcai-s to exist in front of the last tooth. 



