XENOPELTIS UNICOLOR. 1«1 



Rostral shield broader than high, slightly recurved on the upper surface of the snout, with 

 an obtuse superior angle. The anterior frontals are about half the size of the posterior, and 

 rather broader than long ; the posterior frontals are longer than broad, five-sided, their inner 

 and prseocular margins being the longest. Vertical five-sided, with an acute angle behind, 

 and with the hinder sides longest. Supraorbital small, not much larger than the eye. The 

 occipital region is covered by five shields, viz. by an anterior pair, by a posterior pair, and by 

 a central shield ; the shields of the anterior pair and the central one resemble the vertical in 

 form and size. The nasal shield is rather small, oblong, and divided into two by a transverse 

 suture, on which the nostril is situated. The praeocular is very large, forming a long suture 

 with the posterior frontal, and a shorter one with the vertical. Postoculars two, equal in 

 size and form. Eight upper labials, the fourth and fifth of which are produced upwards to 

 form the lower part of the orbit together with the lower postorbital. Six scale-like temporals 

 arranged in two series descending obliquely forwards ; two are in contact with the postoculars. 

 The mental shield is rather broader than long, with a slight median groove ; the first pair of 

 lower labials form a suture together behind the rostral ; one pair of chin-shields, which are 

 longer than broad, and separated by a longitudinal groove. Seven lower labials, three of 

 which are in contact with the chin-shield, and the third of which is longer than the second. 



The cii'cumference of the body is equal to the length of the tail, and one-tenth or one- 

 eleventh of the total length ; it is surrounded by fifteen longitudinal series of smooth, pore- 

 less, polished scales, those of the outer series being much larger than the others. Abdominal 

 shields about 180; anal bifid; subcaudals bifid, 27. 



Old specimens are uniform brown or blackish above, and white below ; young individuals 

 have a white head, and this part is frequently of a lighter coloration even in older examples. 

 Light lines run along the joining edges of the series of scales, but disappear nearly entirely 

 with age. 



The cleft of the mouth is of moderate width, and the mandibles cannot be moved much 

 from each other ; there are forty closely set teeth of equal size on each side of the upper 

 jaw, and as many in the lower. The palatine teeth are rather stronger and more widely set, 

 twenty-six in number. 



This snake attains to a length of 3-4 feet ; we have received it from Pinang and Singapore, 

 from Gamboja, Sumatra, Java, Celebes, and Borneo. It is a nocturnal species and of fierce 

 habits, feeding on small mammals, which it hunts for in their subterranean holes. 



