790 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIX. 



there is no doubt that the snake should rank as a definite species. A 

 study of the dentition would decide the point. 



Dimensions. — The largest specimen of the typical variety I know of 

 is the one collected by Evans and myself in Bangoon, which measured 

 4 feet 3 inches. 



General characters. — Practically identical with those enumerated 

 under D. tristis. I know of nothing special calling for remark : 

 except that the tail appears to be relatively longer than in tristis. 

 being usually fully one-third the total length of the snake, and often 

 rather longer. The tongue is red with black tips (Flower). 



Identification. — The remarks made under D. tristis are applicable 

 here. A combination of the following characters will establish its 

 identity: — (1) Vertebrals enlarged, and as broad as long or nearly so 

 in midbody ; {'I) Ridged ventral shields ; (3) Scales in 15 rows in 

 midbody ; (4) Divided anal ; and (5) Subcaudal shields 131 to 153. 

 As this snake is by far the commonest of the species in the genera 

 JJendrophis and Deridrelaphis within the territory referred to here- 

 after, it is probable that any snake with the first two characters just 

 mentioned will prove to be pictus. 



Haunts. — Its haunts are precisely those of its common Indian ally 

 tristis. That it will leave its arboreal environment, in quest of food 

 is shown by Flower who found a marsh haunting frog Raria macro- 

 dactyla in the stomach of one specimen. In Burma it was found in 

 trees, and bushes, in verandah- creepers, the trellis-work screens 

 around tennis-courts, and similar situations usually, and Annandale 

 remarks that in the Malay States it is more usually found in bushes 

 near the ground than in trees. 



Disposition. — I believe it is a timid, inofi"ensive reptile, much like 

 its Indian cousin tristis. A specimen I had in ca})tivity was notably 

 so, for when first caught by the tail it did not venture to menace or 

 bite, but merely struggled to escape. In its cage it retired to the fur- 

 thest part when the glass was approached, and could not be roused to 

 anger by drumming on the glass or waving objects before it. )} 



Habits.— lis springing ("flying") habit is, I think, chjarly esta- 

 blished. Shelford, who reniarked upon this extraordinary habit* | 

 mentioned JJendrophis pictus as one of the species credited by the 



* Prol. Zool. Soc. Lond.. 1006, p. -JJT. 



