Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 65 



er towards the middle than at the extremities ; the back throughout 

 depressed, forming an angle with the sides, and the abdomen is flat, 

 which makes a vertical section of the body square. The tail is very 

 slender, tapering to a sharp point, and exceeds one-fifth of the entire 

 length. The teeth are very minute, of equal size. A single specimen 

 from the Malayan Peninsula was of the following dimensions : 



Length of the head, Of inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, 9f 



Ditto ditto tail, 2\ 



Hi inch. 



Circumference of the trunk : f, of the neck and root of the tail | in. 



In Bengal this species is of no uncommon occurrence, particularly 

 during the rainy season, when the water compels the serpents to leave 

 the shady recesses which most of them occupy to avoid the heat of 

 the day. The present species appears to be closely allied to the 

 African C. arctiventris, Schlegel. 



Of the preceding four species, the three first appear at Pinang 

 exclusively to inhabit the hills, but the variety of C. lumbricoidea 

 occurs at Singapore in valleys. They are nowhere to be met in num- 

 bers. They are of gentle peaceable habits, never attempting to bite, 

 and scarcely to escape. They are sluggish, move but slowly, and to 

 a short distance, even when compelled by danger, and soon resume 

 the motionless position which they appear to affect. The remarkable 

 abstinence of most of their congeners, they possess but in a very 

 limited degree. In captivity they refuse food, and soon expire ; be- 

 sides, they are so delicate, that slight pressure in examining them, is 

 sufficient to kill them. Their bodies are very smooth, and brilliantly 

 reflect rain-bow-colours, which continue in preserved specimens, long 

 after the gay livery has faded. They feed upon slugs, earth-worms, 

 and insects. The stomach of a C. sagittaria contained remains of an 

 lulus and some sand. In general appearance, and habits these species 

 of Calamaria strongly resemble the Malayan Elaps (vide infra.) 



Gen. (Joronella, Laurenti. 

 Head above covered with large plates, of which one between the eyes ; 



