123 



Note. In Hull. Mus. d'hist. nat. N°. 4 19 12, p. 4, R. Desi'AX 

 describes a specimen caught in the Dutch East Indies and 

 preserved in the Paris Museum, which is exactly like the only 

 specimen known, but for the number of scales, which is 17, 

 the anal shield which is divided and the number of subcaudai 

 shields which is 53. Length of head and body 239 mm.; tail 

 66 mm. As it is the only specimen found, it is difficult to say 

 if it should rank as a variety [Simotes annitlifer var. bipartita 

 Despax) or should be regarded as a distinct species. 



2. Simotes octolineatus (Schn.). 



Elaps octolineatus^ Schneider, Hist. Amph. II 1801, p. 299. 

 Simotes octolineatus^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. II 1894, p. 224. 



Holarchus octolineatus^ Barbour, Mem. Mus, Comp. Zool. Harv. Cull. XLIV 

 19 1 2, p. 118. 



Nasal divided; rostral visible from above; suture between 

 the internasals almost as long as that between the praefrontals; 

 frontal longer than its distance from the tip of the snout, as 

 long as the parietals; loreal as long as deep; one prae- and 

 two postoculars; temporals 2 + 2; six upper labials, third and 

 fourth entering the eye; four lower labials in contact with 

 the anterior chin-shields; latter longer than the posterior. Scales 

 in 17 rows; ventrals 155 — 197, with an obtuse angle; anal 

 entire; subcaudals 43- — 61. 



Yellow or pale brown above, with six or eight black longi- 

 tudinal stripes, or black with yellow lines (the vertebral line 

 sometimes scarlet), narrower than the interspaces; head yellow, 

 the two median black dorsal stripes confluent on the frontal; 

 a black curved transverse band passing through the eyes; an 

 oblique band on each side from the parietals to below the 

 angle of the mouth. Lower surface yellow, sometimes with a 

 series of black spots on each side, which may confluent into 

 a line. Length of head and body 580 mm.; tail 100 mm. 



Nom. in dig. Ular birang (Borneo); ular pitar (mal.). 



Habitat: Nias!; Sumatra (Labuan, Medan!, Langkat, 

 Bedagei, Singkel, Gunung Sahilan!, Padang); Siak!; Banka; Riou!; 

 Borneo (Sandakan, Baram river, Mt. Kina Balu, Rejang river, 

 Santubong, Kuching, Sungei duri, Singkawang!, Sintang, Mon- 

 trado, Mt. Dulit, Bandjermassin, Samarinda!); Java (Depok, 



