248 



Feeds on small mammals, birds, frogs and lizards. Lives in 

 sawahs, near rivers under stones or in hollows in the ground. 



Of the many different forms of this species the following 

 are found in the Dutch East Indies: 



1. Var, caeca Gmel. 25 — 31 scales across the neck, 21 — 25 

 across the middle of the body. Uniform pale brown or grey 

 to black; no marking on the hood; one or more dark trans- 

 verse bands on the anterior part of the belly. 



Habitat: Java. 



2. Var. sputatrix Boie. 25 scales across the neck, 19 — 21 

 across the middle of the body. Black or dark brown above 

 and below; sides of head and neck yellow or orange. Young 

 specimens with a pale U- or Q-shaped marking on the hood; 

 chin and throat whitish. 



Habitat: Sumatra; Java. 



3. Var. leucodira Blgr. 21 — 25 scales across the neck, 17 or 

 19 across the middle of the body. Brown or black; no marking 

 on the hood; neck whitish below, with a black transverse 

 band and a black spot anteriorly and one or two on each side. 



Habitat: Sumatra. 



4. Var. miolepis Blgr. 21 — 23 scales across the neck, 17 — 19 

 across the middle of the body. Dark brown or black; no 

 marking on the hood; sides of head and throat yellowish. 

 Young ones with a white throat, the white extending back- 

 wards towards its fellow, forming an angular band behind the 

 hood; body and tail with complete white rings. 



Habitat: Borneo. 



5. Var. paiicisquaniis Peracca. 19 scales across the neck, 15 

 across the middle of the body. Black above and below; throat 

 yellowish-white; head brown, paler towards the sides. 



Habitat: Borneo. 



6. Var. swnatrana F. Muller. 21 scales across the neck, 

 17 across the middle of the body. Black above; throat yellow 

 with a transverse black band; two confluent black spots ante- 

 riorly. Young specimens with about 8 narrow whitish rings 

 on the posterior part of the body. 



Habitat: Sumatra. 



