40 



Head depressed, snout rounded ; nostril between two nasals; 

 frontal as long as its distance from the rostral; praeocular large; 

 two postoculars, upper one largest; a small supraocular, smaller 



Fig. 20. Xenopeltis unicolor Reinw. X ^li- l^^pper view of head. 



than the upper postocular; a large, azygous interparietal, in 



the middle of four parietals; eight upper labials, first in contact 



with the internasal, fourth and fifth entering the eye; a pair 



of small chin-shields, in contact with the three 



anterior lower labials. Scales in 15 rows, smooth; 



ventrals 164 — 193; anal divided; subcaudals 



26—31. 



Brown or blackish above, iridescent, the scales 



light-edged; upper lip pale yellow. Lower surface 



white. In young specimens the head is whitish 



and a yellow collar is present. Length of head and 



body 900 mm.; tail lOO mm. 



Nom. indig. Ular ekor merak; Soratu (Sima- 



Fig. 21. Xeno- ly^) . uien tana (C. Celebes). 



jelHs unicolor Habitat: Simalur ! ; Nias!; Sumatra (Pulu 



Reinw. Head of 



young specimen, ^^h!, Atjeh, Medan !, Labuan, Langkat, Indra- 



X 21/2- Siri, Singkarah !, Rau, Gunung Sahilan !, Agam, 



Ringgat!, Padang !, Palembang!); Siak !; Riou !; 



Banka!; Java (Gadok, Buitenzorg !, Preanger, Salatiga !, Tengger 



Mts. 1200 M.); Borneo! (Kuching, Singkawang, Kapuas river, 



Kutei, Bulangan river, Balikpapan, Bandjermassin) ; Celebes 



