Malayan Peninsula and Inlands. 81 



longer than the rest, which gradually decrease. The scales of the 

 trunk, in 25 longitudinal series, are rhombic with rounded points, 

 imbricate, and all smooth except those covering the spinous processes, 

 which are faintly lineated. 



Of two individuals from the hills of Pinang, the larger, taken by Sir 

 William Norris, was of the following dimensions : 



Length of the head, ft. If inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, 3 4 



Ditto ditto tail, 1 1 



4 ft. Gf inch. 



Circumference of the neck 2, of the trunk 3, of the root of the tail 

 If inch. The ferocious habits of this serpent have been accurately 

 described by M. Reinwardt. It has in a remarkable degree the power 

 of laterally compressing the neck and the anterior part of the 

 body, when the greyish blue skin becomes visible between the 

 separated scales. In such state of excitement it raises nearly the 

 anterior third vertically from the ground, continues fixed during 

 several seconds with vibrating tongue, and bites. It then throws itself 

 down, to rise to a renewed attack. A similar mode of attack cha- 

 racterises the following species, viz : Dryinus nasutus, (Lacepede,) 

 (Russell, I. PI. 12 and 13,),— D. prasinus, (Reinwardt.) (Vryiophis 

 prasina apud Schlegel,) Lcptophis pictus (Gmelin), and Leptophis 

 caudalineatus. 



Gen. Dryinus,* Merrem, 1820. 



Upper jaw much longer than the lower ; muzzle attenuated, more or 

 less acute at the apex, which in some species is mucronate and move- 

 able. 



Dryinus prasinus, (Reinwardt.) 



Syn.— Seba, II, Tab. LIII, Fig. 4. 



Coluber nasutus,f Shaw, apud Russell, II, PI. 24. 

 Dryinus nasutus, Bell, (uot Menem, 1820.) 



* In H. Boie's Genera, published in his, 1827, Dryophis, (Dahlman,) is substituted 

 for this genus. Waglerin 1830 separated some species under the denomination of 77a- 

 gnps, and M. Sehlegel in his " Essny" has exclusively retained Dryiophis, although 

 Prof. Thos. Bell already in 1825 had published his article on Leptophlna ( comprising' 

 Dryinus, Merrem, and Leptophis, Bell.) 



t The specific name was previously applied by Lacepede in 1730 to the other Asiatic 

 species. 



