Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 109 



the fifth find sixth upper lahials. The eye is sunk, excessively minute, 

 surrounded by two small post-orbitals ; beneath by the third and fourth 

 upper labials, and by a single narrow triangular prae-orbital. The 

 latter is placed obliquely, so that the downwards pointed apex meets 

 the linear posterior part of the nasal, or as it is considered by some, 

 the frenal. The nostrils are comparatively large. The upper labials 

 number six on each side : the two posterior are the largest. The chin 

 is covered by two pairs of elongated narrow shields, externally bordered 

 by the third and fourth, the largest of the six inferior labials. The 

 gular scales are more numerous than those of E. intestinal is. The 

 neck is covered by 15, the trunk by 13 longitudinal series of smooth 

 rhombic scales with rounded points. This species is of no uncommon 

 occurrence in the hills of Pinang. The largest individual was of the 

 following dimensions : 



■a 



Length of the head, ft. Of inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, 2 If 



Ditto ditto tail, 1 a 



2 ft. 3| inch. 

 Circumference of the trunk, 1 inch. 



Elaps bivirgatus,* Kuhl, Var. 



Syn. — Elaps flaviceps. Cantor, Spicil. 



Elaps tlaviceps, apud J. Reinhanlt : Beskrivelse, &c. 



Head, lips and throat vermilion ; trunk above brilliant iridescent, 

 intense black, most of the scales partially edged with azure, not how- 

 ever sufficiently to produce regular network ; the two lowest series of 

 scales on each side azure, forming a continued lateral band, longitudi- 

 nally divided by a white zig-zag line, produced by the scales being par- 

 tially edged with white. Beneath vermilion ; each scutum with two 

 lateral, square, black spots, forming a continued black band bordering 

 the azure. Tail above with a narrow black dorsal line ; sides and scu- 

 tella vermilion. Iris and tongue black. 



Scuta 248 to 277 ; Scutella 38 to 45. 



* Syn. — Erpetologie rfe Java. PI. 44.— Elaps bivirgatus, apud Schlegel. 

 Habit. — Java, Sumatra. 



