Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 13/ 



them in immediate contact with animals, the wound of which is fatal. 

 The fishermen in the straits of Malacca are aware of their danger, and 

 therefore take care to avoid or destroy these reptiles while landing the 

 fishes. The Malays denominate them " liar laut," i. e. serpents of 

 the sea, among which, however, the innocuous Acrochordus granvlatus, 

 (Schneider) is also comprised as an inhabitant of the coasts. 



BATRACHIA. 



FAM. CiECILID.E, Bonapaktk. 



' Gen. Ichthyophis, Fitzinger, 1826. 

 (Epicrium, Wagler, 1S28.) 



Head depressed, elongated ; muzzle obtuse ; maxillary and palatine 

 teeth slender, pointed and couched backwards ; tongue entire with 

 velvety surface; eyes distinct, below and a little in front of which a 

 fosset with a minutely tentaculated border ; body subf'usitbrm with 

 numerous close circular folds. 



Ichthyophis gliitinosus (Linne) Var? 



Of a uniform sooty brown, paler on the lower surface. Circular 

 folds 254, of which 8 are caudal, 

 H abit. — Singapore. 



The transversal diameter, taken at the occiput, is nearly equal to 

 that of the root of the tail, and but little less than the uniform diameter 

 of the trunk, which is between the 24th and 25th part of the entire 

 length. Compared with a specimen of Ichthyophis gliitinosus, (Linne,) 

 the present is of a more robust make ; the bead is shorter, the muzzle 

 blunter, and the transversal distance between the nostrils greater. 

 The apex of the tongue and the arches formed by the teeth are broader, 

 more rounded. The palatal and upper maxillary teeth are blunter, 

 and appear less recurved. Those of the lower jaw, the largest, present 

 an appearance as if each was composed of two distinct parts : a lower 

 which is vertical, broadly triangular, the posterior margin of which 

 supports the upper part, which is curved backwards, and with rounded 

 apex. The circular folds of the skin are fewer, more distant, and with 

 the exception of the 'S or 4 anterior ones, complete. They are dis- 



