96 Catalogue of Reptiles inhabiting the 



boidal form with rounded points, disposed on the anterior part in 25, 

 on the posterior part in 17, longitudinal series. The tail is robust, 

 tapering, and prehensile. In the Malayan countries this species occurs 

 in numbers in rivers, estuaries, and occasionally along the sea coasts. 

 It feeds upon fishes. Single individuals measuring between 3 and 4 

 feet in length, are of very rare occurrence. Of a great number the 

 largest was of the following dimensions : 



Length of the head, ft. If inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, 2 3 



Ditto ditto tail, 7 



2 ft. 1 If inch. 

 Circumference of the neck, 1|, of the trunk, 3f, of the root of tbe 

 tail, If inch. It is of peaceful habits ; the female brings forth 8 living 

 young, each of which measures from 7 to 7^ inches in length. 



Homalopsis buccata, (Linne.) 



Syn. — Scheuchzer, PI. 660, Fig. 1, (young.) 



Seba, II. Tab. 12. F. 1 ;— T. 13, F. 1 ;— T. 21, F. 3, (young.) 



Coluber buccatus, Linne, 



Coluber monilis, Linne. 



Coluber subalbidus, Boddaert, apud Gmelin. 



Le Demicollier, Lacepede. 



Vipernkopfige Natter, Merrem. 



Coluber buccatus, apud Shaw. 



Russell, II, PI. 33, (young.) 



Coluber viperinus, Shaw. 



Coluber buccatus, Daudin. 



Coluber horridus, Daudin. 



Echidna semifasciata, Merrem. 



Homalopsis buccata, Schlegel. 



Young. Ground colour, white or buff, becoming brownish on the 

 crown shields, hindhead and lips ; on the muzzle an angular mark, 

 with the apex between the frontals, Van Dyke brown or chestnut ; an 

 oblique streak proceeds from the eye over the cheek, joining a broad cer- 

 vical band, which, sending a narrow straight line to tbe occipitals, gives 

 the upper part of the head a heart-shaped outline ; the back and tail with 

 numerous broad transversal brown bands, between which the ground 

 colour appears in the shape of white, often interrupted, narrower bands, 

 and of a white spot in the centre and on each side of the brown bands. 

 The latter reacb but as far as the lowest four or five series of scales on 

 the sides, which as well as the throat and abdomen are white ; on each 



