TRIMERESURUS ANAMALLENSIS. 387 



Teimeresurus purpureus. 



Trimesurus purpureus, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 48. 

 Trigonocephalus purpureo-maculatus. Gray, Ind. Zool. c. fig. 

 puuiceus, Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 122 (not syiion.). 



The second upper labial shield forms the front part of the facial pit. Supranasals separated 

 from each other by one or two small shields situated behind the rostral. Supraciliary narrow, 

 linear. Scales in twenty-five or twenty-seven rows, those on the crown of the head small, 

 distinctly keeled. Ventrals 162-171 ; subcaudals 65-70. Dull reddish brown ; lips, throat, 

 the four outer series of scales, and lower parts pale greenish yellow ; a yellowish band runs 

 along the outer series of scales ; ventral shields with the outer margins brown ; subcaudals 

 marbled with brown. 



This species has hitherto been found only at Pinang and Singapore. The typical specimen, 

 which I have compared with those collected by Cantor, is 38 inches long, the tail measuring 

 6 inches. Its tail is less prehensile than in the preceding species, and all the specimens 

 observed by Cantor were found on the ground. 



TrIMERESUEUS ANAMALLENSIS. (Plate XXIV. fig. C.) 



The second upper labial shield forms the front pai't of the facial pit; generally a small 

 shield between the supranasals. Scales on the head and on the body more or less distinctly 

 keeled, in twenty-one series. Ventrals 148-158 ; subcaudals 51-55. Ground-colour gene- 

 rally yellowish green, with a dorsal series of large rhombic black spots, each spot subdivided 

 by, or variegated with yellow. Upper side of the head marbled with black in adult speci- 

 mens, uniform greenish in young ones ; a black or brown band runs from the back edge of 

 the eye to the angle of the mouth ; supraciliary with one or two black cross streaks. Belly 

 yellowish green, with numerous yellow and black spots along its side. Tail black, with 

 yellow and green spots. Young specimens may be recognized by the dark temple-streak ; but 

 nearly all the other markings are very indistinct, and the ground-colour is a reddish olive ; 

 tail with white extremity. 



A specimen received with others from the same locality has a brownish-purple ground- 

 colour, with a dorsal series of bro^vn spots; belly marbled vpith purple; tail black, with 

 irregular greenish rings and with some indistinct small yellowish spots. This specimen also 

 has the supraciliary divided into two, but, nevertheless, we consider it merely as a variety. 



We have received about a dozen specimens from the Anamallay Mountains through 

 Captain R. H. Beddome ; the largest is 24 inches long, the tail measuring 3i inches. 



I have for some time considered this species as possibly identical with Trigonocephalus {Cophias) niala- 

 baricus, n. s. ?, Jerdon, Journ. As. Soc. Bang. 1854, xxii. p. 523, which is characterized thus: — "Very 

 closely allied to T. nigromarr/inahis. Has twenty-one rows of smooth scales. Ventrals 145-149 ; sub- 

 caudals 48-53. Green above, with broAvn transverse and zigzag markings. Up to 3 feet long nearly. Not 

 uncommon in all the forests of the west coast." 



It is almost impossible to recognize a species from such a diagnosis. Moreover Mr. Jerdon describes 



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