COMPSOSOMA RETICULAEE. 245 



The markings described are found in some old individuals, whilst they are nearly entirely 

 absent in others. On the other hand, young specimens always show them very bright, and 

 more developed, — the series of black spots along the margins of the abdomen extending 

 more backwards, being composed of twenty-three or more spots, each of which, moreover, has 

 a white ocellus above. 



This species is found in Sumatra, Java, Celebes, and other islands of the East Indian 

 archipelago. We have seen two specimens, one of which is said to be from Bengal, the 

 other from China. The former is 65 inches long, the tail measuring 14^ inches. 



COMPSOSOMA RETICULARE. (Plate XXI. fig. D.) 



Coluber reticularis, Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 51. 

 Spilotes reticularis, Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 98. 



Body and tail somewhat elongate and compressed ; head flat, rather distinct from neck ; 

 snout long and broad, obtusely rounded in front. Rostral shield as high as broad ; anterior 

 frontals of moderate size, nearly half as large as posterior, broader than long. Vertical five- 

 sided, broad in front, its anterior margin being as long as, or rather longer than, the posterior ; 

 lateral margins convergent; hinder margins meeting at a right angle. Occipitals rather 

 longer than vertical, rounded behind. Loreal longer than high ; one prseocular, extending 

 on to the upper surface of the head, but not reaching the vertical ; sometimes a portion of the 

 fourth labial is detached, forming a small lower prgeocular. Two postoculars, the upper 

 sometimes united vdth the superciliary. Eight low upper labials, sometimes the two posterior 

 united ; the fourth, fifth, and sixth enter the orbit, or the fifth and sixth only, when there is 

 a second prseorbital, as mentioned above : the sixth is low, and does not ascend behind the 

 hinder margin of the orbit. Temporals 2 + 3, the two anterior elongate, and in contact with 

 the postoculars. Scales rhombic, not elongate, slightly keeled, in twenty-one (nineteen) 

 rows. Ventrals 225-234; anal entire*; subcaudals 75-85. The ventrals have no trace of 

 a keel, and are but little bent up the sides. Each maxillary is armed with seventeen teeth 

 equal in size. Blackish brown ; behind black, with numerous narrow whitish cross bands, on 

 the anterior part of the body less conspicuous than on the posterior, where they generally 

 assume a light brownish-red colour: the bands are sometimes indistinct and form only 

 reticulated spots. Belly yellowish, spotted or marbled with black, sometimes uniform black. 

 Some specimens show an indistinct pale longitudinal band along each side of the back. 



In young specimens the whitish cross bands are very indistinct on the anterior part of the 

 trunk, whilst brown spots disposed in four longitudinal series occupy this portion of the 

 body ; they are confluent towards the middle of the length and gradually disappear entirely. 

 The abdominal spots are quadrangular. 



In almost every specimen one or two pairs of cephalic shields are united, and the irregu- 

 larities mentioned above are only a few of those which may occur ; in this respect this species 



In a single specimen out of t^venty, bifid. 



