i 



"^ 



90 



T. QUiNCUNCiATUS, Schlegel The Checkered Snake. Plate 

 " XIV, fig. 1 



Scales 19, keeled. Ventrals 129-149, with the subcaudals 

 often 137 + 85 or 145 + 77, the total not being far from 222. 

 Tail often much shortened in females. Loreal rhombic ; 1 

 preocular, 3 postoculars, labials 9 (4 & 5) ; anterior frontals 

 form a triangle. Crown narrow. 



Variety a. Olive brown, with black checkers formed by 

 6 alternating rows of square black spots ; belly cream- 

 coloured with lateral black ventral margins ; 2 black streaks 

 go backward from the orbit. 



Variety b. The outer row of checkers alone distinct ; 

 they are high, intervals red ; ventrals tinged with red, black 

 nuchal streak ; 2 black post-orbital streaks. 



Very common throughout the East Indies ; variety h in 

 its most marked form is peculiar to Burma. An inter- 

 mediate form is variety a with the ground colour bright 

 yellow. Generally speaking, those individuals which live 

 nearly entirely in the water have a tendency to brighter 

 colours. Grows to four feet ; my largest specimen (Banga- 

 lore) was 51 inches, of which the tail 12 inches. 



T. ANNULARIS, Hallowel. 



Scales 19. Ventrals 158, subc. 54. Upper parts plum- 

 beous; lower parts red with about 40 black cross-bars, 

 extending up the sides. 

 China. 



T. TRIANGTJLIGERUS, Reiuw. 



Scales 19. Ventrals 140-148, subc. 70-90. Labials 9 

 (4, 5 & 6). Dark brown, reddish anteriorly, with lateral 

 triangular black spots, apex resting on the ventrals. 

 Straits. 



[The remaining snakes of this genus have the last tooth enlarged 

 and enveloped in a well-marked gingival fold.] 



