TROPIDONOTUS TRIANGULIGERUS. 261 



Var. /3. The spots are, as it were, dissolved into a network of black lines, with intermixed 

 white dots. Specimens of this variety are as frequent as of var. a. 



Var. y. The spots are confluent, forming broad, rhombic, transverse blackish or brownish 

 bands, each with a darker margin ; the anterior of these bands are sometimes again con- 

 fluent, forming a zigzag band. We have received this variety from Ceylon only. 



Var. S. Upper parts nearly entirely uniform blackish ash-coloured ; only a few scales have 

 a black or white dot at the base. The temple-streaks are very inconspicuous or entirely 

 absent. This variety is very common in Nepal and in Ceylon, indi%iduals from the latter 

 country having strongly keeled scales. 



This is one of the most widely spread species of the East Indies, ranging from Mesopotamia 

 into the southern parts of China, and inhabiting most of the islands of the western half of 

 the Archipelago. It abounds near rivers and pools, feeding on frogs and fishes ; it attains to 

 a length of 3 feet, and is of fierce habits. 



Tropidonotus annulaeis. 



Tropidonotus annularis, Hallowell, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1856, p. 151. Giinth. Colubr. 



Snakes, p. 67. 

 chinensis, {Jan) Berthold, Gbtt. Nachr. 1859, p. 180. 



Head, body, and tail of moderate length ; eye rather small. Scales ia nineteen rows. 

 Ventrals 158 ; subcaudals 54. Anterior frontals pointed in front, as long as posterior. 

 Occipitals narrow, elongate. One prseocular, just reaching to the upper surface of the crown ; 

 three postoculars. Loreal quadrangular. Eight (nine) upper labials, only the fourth (fifth) 

 entering the orbit. Temporals 3 + 3 ; two of the anterior temporals are in contact with the 

 postoculars. Each maxillary is armed with eighteen teeth, the posterior being scarcely larger 

 than those in the middle, and all forming one continuous series. Back uniform lead-coloured ; 

 belly red (white in spirits), with black cross bands, each occupying one or two ventral or sub- 

 caudal shields, frequently interrupted in the middle, and extending upwards on the sides of 

 the body, where they form a series of about forty vertical bars ; each of these bars generally 

 encloses several white dots. 



This species is found in China ( Ningpo, Chikiang) and on the island of Formosa ; it attains 

 to a length of more than 30 inches. 



Tropidonotus trianguligeeus. 



Tropidonotus trianguligerus, {Reinw.) Boie, Isis, 1827, p. 535. Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 311. 

 pi. 12. figs. 1-3. 



Head, body, and tail of moderate length ; eye of moderate size. Scales in nineteen rows ; 

 ventrals (140-)148; subcaudals 70-90. Anterior frontals triangular, somewhat truncated in 



