244 



Habitat : Sumatra (Stabat, Medan!, Bulo Telang in Langkat); 

 Siak!; Java (Gadok, Buitenzorg!, Depok, Cheribon!, Ambarawa, 

 Wonosobo, Kedu!, Salatiga!, Tengger Mts. I200 M.); Borneo 

 (Baram river, Kuching, Singkawang). — Penang; Malay Penin- 

 sula; Siam; Burma; Assam; Bengal; S. India; S. China; 

 Indo China. 



Lives in dry places, in hollows of the ground ; in Java 

 often found in Sawahdikes. Feeds on small mammals, lizards 

 and snakes. The eggs, 8 in number, are incubated by the female, 



2. Bungarus candidus (L.). 



Coluber candidus^ Linne, Mus. Ad. Fiid. 1754, p. 33, pi. VII, fig. i. 

 Bungarus candidus^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Ill 1896, p. 368 (s. syn.). 



Rostral more broad than deep, visible from above; inter- 

 nasals shorter than the praefrontals; frontal as long as its 

 distance from the tip of the snout, shorter than the parietals; 

 one prae- and two postoculars; temporals i + i or i + 2, 

 anterior much more long than deep; seven upper labials, third 



Fig. 91. Bungarus candidus (L.) X Vs- 

 and fourth entering the eye; three (four) lower labials in 

 contact with the anterior chin-shields; latter as long as the 

 posterior. Scales in 15 (17) rows, vertebrals much enlarged; 

 ventrals 194 — 237; anal entire; subcaudals 2,^ — 56, single. 



Barred with dark brown and yellow, 27—34 (42—60) dark 

 bars on body and tail, the first continuous with the dark 

 colour of the head, narrowed and rounded on the sides; the 

 broad yellow interspaces may be spotted with black; or dark 

 brown or bluish black above, with narrow, transverse, white 

 .streaks or with small white spots. Lower surface white. Length 

 of head and body 920 mm.; tail 160 mm. 



