194 



large preocular forming an angular projection between the 

 posterior frontal and the supraciliary ; two postoculars, the upper 

 the larger ; two pairs of temporals, the lower of the anterior pair 

 much the larger, and completely separating the upper from the 

 posterior pair ; fourth and fifth upper labials entering the eye ; 

 fifth lower labial the largest. Colors — Head and body above 

 pale brown, below yellowish-white anteriorly, becoming dirty 

 brown posteriorly ; tail above dark brown, below lighter with a 

 central lead-colored zigzag stripe. 



Total length fifty-six inches ; tail eighteen inches. Register 

 number R. 1088. 



Dendrophis elegans, sp. nov. 



Scales on the body anteriorly in thirteen, posteriorly in eleven 

 series ; abdominal plates one hundred and eighty-five ; anal plate 

 divided ; subcaudal plates in two rows of one hundi-ed and forty- 

 four each. Head moderately distinct from the neck. Rostral 

 two-thirds broader than high ; loreal oblong, twice as long as 

 high ; supraciliaries swollen, forming a blunt ridge over the eye ; 

 occipitals quadrilateral, squarely cut ofl' behind ; five temporal 

 shields ; fifth and sixth upper labials entering the eye. In all 

 other respects similar to D. papuce. Colors — Upper surface of 

 head black, the supraciliaries with an orange tinge ; lower surface 

 and greater part of the upper labials cream color ; general color 

 of the upper surface of the body yellowish-brown lighter in front 

 and duller, variously ornamented with black, which predominates 

 on the neck and neighboring part of the body ; mesially the 

 black takes the form of oblique bands from one to two scales in 

 breadth and about five times that distance apart, and encroaching 

 on the belly but not reaching across the abdominal scales ; pos- 

 teriorly the markings become almost merged in the duller and 

 darker ground color; belly anteriorly cream color, becoming a 

 greenish lead color posteriorly ; tail very dark brown above, lead 

 color below. 



Total length about sixty inches; tail nineteen inches. Register 

 number R. 1089. 



The three Snakes described above were obtained by tlie 

 collectors of the Royal Greographical Society's Expedition to the 

 Fly River, New Guinea, in 1885. 



