A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 789 



the two in the development of the vertebrals, and still more recently 

 in the dentition. 



1 may mention here that the sky blue adornment just referred to 

 is not of sexnal import, since it is to be seen in both sexes from the 

 earliest ages, and at all seasons. 



In the Andaman Islands a snake of this genus occurs which has 

 hitherto been considered merely a variety of piclvs, but which may 

 prove to be a distinct species. It is referred to by Blyth in his book 

 "The Andaman Islanders" (p. 365) as being remarkably rich 

 coloured, green, and variegated, and appears to be common accord- 

 ing to this authority. Stoliczka* also ^-peaks of it as being common, 

 and says it is a " beautifully bright yellowish and green durino- life, 

 each scale blackish in the posterior hall. " The same authorityf says 

 that the usual continental form inhabits the Nicobars. and the Cocos, 

 but the green form is peculiar to the Andamans. It is not however 

 the only form found in this last Insular group, since Dr. Annandale 

 has sent me a specimen very similar to the Burmese form except that 

 the postocular stripe is narrow and obscure, the scales are heavily out- 

 Imed with black and there is no black line in the flanks at the edge of 

 the ventrals. He remarks that the majority of the specimens from 

 these Islands are of the green variety, Le., andamanensii. 



Anderson! describes this green variety in greater detail than the 

 other authorities alluded to. lie says it is grass- green above, each 

 scale with a broad black margin, and the ventrals with a black margin, 

 as far as the keel. The black margins of the scales, are so broad that 

 when body is at rest, by the overlapping of the scales, the whole side of 

 the body appears black. A black line beginning in the lore reappear.s 

 behind the eye, and extends to the neck where it becomes broken up 

 into spots. 



I have not seen this form in life, but in spirit it appears unifornj 

 Oxford blue, acquiring just the same hue that many other green 

 snakes (Dryophis, Lachesis, Dipsadomorphus cxjanens, etc.,) do inspirit 

 owmg, I believe, to the green colouring maiter dissolving out. The 

 preservative certainly acquires a distinctly greenish tinge. In the 

 specimen I examined only the 5th and 6th labials touched the eye, 

 and the last ventral was divided. If these two characters are constant 



• J. A. 8. Bengnl XXXIX, p. 193. T J. A. S. Bengal XUI, p 163. 

 JP. Z.S. 1871, p. 164. 



