Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 59 



followed by some sanguinolent serum. With two exceptions the foetus 

 appeared with the head foremost. They were very active, bit fiercely ; 

 and their teeth were fully developed. Shortly after birth the integu- 

 ments came off in large pieces, which is also the case with the foetus of 

 several species of Homalopsis. The present ones were placed in water, 

 which however appeared to distress them, as they all attempted to 

 escape on dry ground. Nearly all were of the following dimensions : 



Length of the head, ft. Of inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, 1 If 



Ditto ditto tail, 3 



lft. 5 inch. 



The Malays of Pinang assert that this species is of very rare occur- 

 rence. During a residence of 20 years at Singapore, Dr. Montgomerie 

 observed it but in a solitary instance. The physiognomy of this 

 species bears a striking resemblance to that of a thorough-bred Bull- 

 dog, which in a somewhat less degree also may be said of the follow- 

 ing. 



Sub-Gen. Chersydms,* Cuvier. Head and body uniformly covered 

 small scales. 



Acrochordus granulatus, (Schneider.) 



Syn. — Hydrus granulatus, Schneider. 

 Angvis granulatus, Schneider. 

 Acrochordus fasciatus, Shaw. 

 Acrochordus dubius, Shaw. 

 Pelamis granulatus, Daudin. 

 Chcrsydrus (A. fasciatus, Shaw), Cuvier. 

 Acrochordus fasciatus, apud Raffles. 

 Chersydrus granulatus, Merrem, apud Wagler. 

 Acrochordus fasciatus, apud Schlegel. 

 • U'lar limpa," t-W or " U'lar laut" of the Malays. 



Young. Blackish-brown or liver-coloured ; the head with a few 

 scattered yellowish-white spots, the rest of the body with numerous 

 rings of the latter colour, some interrupted on the back, others on the 

 abdomen. 



* This Sub-Gen. was founded upon the erroneous supposition that Acrochordus fascia- 

 tus, Shaw, possessed venomous organs. 

 t^* Limpa, i. e. liver, liver-coloured. 



