334 COLUBRIDJE. 



entering the eye ; 4 or 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior 

 chin-shields, which are as long as the posterior. Scales in 19 or 

 21 rows, more or less strongly keeled on the posterior half of the 

 body, the outer series without trace of a keel. Yeutrals with an 

 obtuse lateral keel, 224-242 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 85-100. 

 Yellowish bi'own above, with one or two black bands on each side 

 of the anterior half of the back, the lower band usually broken up ; 

 a black line across the occiput ; three black lines radiating from 

 the eye ; lower parts uniform yellow. 



Total length 5 feet ; tail 1 foot. 



Hah. Eastern Himalayas, Assam, Burma, Cochin China, Malay 

 Peninsula, Java, Sumatra. 



411. Coluber melanurus. 



Coluber melanurus, Sclileg. Phys. Serjj. ii, p. 141, pi, v, Hgs. 11 & 12. 

 Compsosomci uielanuruui, iJum. S,- Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 299 ; 



Gtiyith. EcpL B. 1. p. 244; Stolkzha, J. A. S.B. xxxix, 1870, 



p. 188 ; T/teoO. Cat. p. 165. 

 Elapliis melanurus, Jan, Icon. Opliid. 21, pi. iv, fig. 1, and pi. v, 



fig-. 1. 



Rostral broader than deep, visible from aboAe ; suture between 

 the internasals shorter than that between the pra?frontals ; frontal 

 as long as its distance froiu the end of the snout or a little longer, 

 shorter than the parietals ; loreai not longer than deep ; one large 

 praeocular; two postoculars ; temporals 2 + 2; upper labials 9, 

 fourth to sixth entering the eye ; 5 or 6 lower labials in contact 

 with the anterior chin-shields, which are as long as the posterior. 

 Scales in 19 rows, strongly keeled; all the caudal scales keeled. 

 Ventrals with an obtuse lateral keel, 193-230 ; anal entire ; sub- 

 caudals 89-109. Pale brown anteriorly, with a yellow, black-edged 

 vertebral band, which becomes gradually more and more indistinct 

 towards the hinder part of the body, which, like the tail, is dark 

 brown or black ; a series of black spots on each side of the anterior 

 part of the body, of ocelli with bright yellow centre in the young ; 

 some adults are nearly uniform blackish bro\\"n ; a black streak 

 below the eye, another from the eye to the commissure of the 

 jaws, and a third along the temple and neck. 



Total length 5 feet ; tail 1 foot 3 inches. 



Hah. Tenasserim, Andaman.s, Malay Peninsula and Archijjelago. 



412. Coluber prasinus. 



Coluber prasinus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxiii, 1854, p. 291. 

 Gouyosoma gramineum, Gunth. Kept. B. I. p. 294, pi. xxiii, fig. D ; 

 Theoh. Cat. p. 190 ; Anders. An. Zool. Bes. Yannan, p. 824. 



Rostral a Uttle broader than deep, just visible from above ; 

 suture between the internasals a little shorter than that between 

 the prsefrontals ; frontal as long as its distance from the end of 

 the snout, shorter than the parietals ; loreai square or longer than 



