Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 79 



frequent sub-division in 2 linear iuter-occipitals, bordered by two large 

 polygonal post-occipitals, enclosing a smaller tbird, linear. Bebind 

 the latter appears on each side a small hard tubercle, covered like the 

 rest of the hind head with minute polygonal scales. Each temple is 

 protected by 5 to 6 large shields, and as many smaller resting upon 

 the labials. The nasal is large, pyramidal with the rounded nostril in 

 the centre, and the apex wedged in between the 3 frenals, placed 

 cblkjuely or vertically one above the other. The eye is large, promi- 

 nent, encircled by the supra-orbital and 7 smaller shields, so that none 

 of the upper labials reach the orbit. The lips are arched, and outwardly 

 appear to reach to the hind head, but the commissure, or the angle of 

 the mouth is situated immediately talow the eye, which greatly reduces 

 the opening of the mouth. Of the 9 pairs of upper labials the anterior 

 6 are narrow, but very deep and bulging; the posterior 3 are broader, 

 elongated ; the inferior labials, 1 1 pairs, are as well as the rostral, 

 greatly reduced by the 3 pairs of very large mentals. The front view 

 of the head grotesquely resembles that of a mastiff. All the teeth are 

 strong, but the front tooth on each side of the lower jaw is longer than 

 the rest ; the palatal rows are very close together, and converging. 

 The trunk is much compressed, covered by 13 longitudinal series of 

 scales, of which the dorsal row is composed of very large hexagonal 

 ones, each with a strong keel ; the rest are smooth, rhombic, imbricate. 

 The abdomen is very narrow, and the sides of the scuta are bent 

 upwards. The tail is elongated, slender, tapering, and much less 

 compressed than the trunk. Of two individuals from the hills of 

 Pinang, the larger, a male, was of the following dimensions : 



Length of the head, ft. 1 inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, 1 11 



Ditto ditto tail, 1 1| 



2 ft. Hi inch. 



Circumference of the neck 1 inch, of the trunk If, of the root of the 

 tail \ inch. In a female were observed 4 cylindrical, whitish eggs, 

 each £ inch in length. The stomach contained a few remains of 

 insects. 



This species is closely allied to Dipsas carinata, Schlegel, {Ambly- 

 cephalus, Kuhl ; Pareas, Wagler,) in which also the dorsal series of 



