304 BURMA, ITS PEOPLE A.YJJ I'ltODCCTIOXS. 



yellow above, broadly barred with dark grey. Sides and belly white or yellowish. 

 Grows to 21 inches. 



Inhabits the tidal rivers in Burma. 



The colouration of this suaUe strongly resembles that of the poisonous sea snakes, 

 but the presence of a loreal shield proves it is harmless. It is captured with numbers 

 of sea snakes in the sluice nets in the Bassein Iliver below Gnaputau. 



Ckkisercs, Cuvier. 



C. KHTSCHOPS. 



Scales keeled, in from 21 to 25 rows. Nasals two. Eye surrounded by a ring of 

 small orbitals. Snout only shielded ; occiput scaly. Loreal as large as a postocular. 

 Colour blackish ash with a greenish tint, and iri'cgular black cross bars. The outer 

 rows of scales yellowish. Grows to 4 feet, though usually much smaller. 



Inhabits the coasts of India and Burma. 



This is a repulsive and venomous-looking snake, but its loreal shield shows its 

 harmless nature. 



HoMALOPSis, Gilnther. 



H. BrCCATA, L. 



Scales striated and keeled, in 37 to 47 rows. Nasal single. Eye surrounded with 

 a ling of small orbitals. Colour brownish-olive, with narrow grey black-edged cross 

 bars. A brown patch on the snout, a round spot on each side of the occiput and 

 a streak from the eye to the neck. Belly and outer scales yellowish, usually a row 

 of lilack spots along the sides of the belly. The head shields are usually very iiTegular 

 and the colours also. Grows to -42 inches. 



Inhabits Pegu, Tenasserim, and the Malayan Peninsula. 



Fainlhj Acrochordidae. 



CnERSTDRrs, Ciirier. 



C. GHANULATUS, ScllU. 



Tail compressed vertically as in the sea snakes. Scales tubercular in over 100 

 rows, those of the belly forming a serrated ventral keel. Colour above grey descending 

 in stripes to the belly, below yellow, ascending in stripes to the back. Grows to 37 

 inches. 



Inhabits the sea and estuaries of Burma. 



This wholly aquatic species closely resembles the sea snakes, and like them 

 is viviparous. The greater number of its rows of scales serves to distinguish the species. 



Family Psammopliidae. 



PsAMMornrs, Boie. 

 P. coNDANUEus, Mcrr. 



Scales smooth, in 17 rows. One praeoeular. Two postoculars. Nasal single, 

 oblong, pierced posteriorly by a moderate nostril with an oblicjue slit to the first 

 labial. 8 upper labials, the fonrtli and fifth entering the orbit. Colour buff or 

 yellowish, Isabelline brown (the colour of the dirty smock of Isabella the " catholic "), 

 with a dark stripe two scales broad down either side of the back, and a broader 

 dark stripe down either side of the belly. Belly yellowish, colours stiongly con- 

 trasted. Grows to 40 inches. 



Inhabits Pegu and India. A very active snake. 



PsAMMODTNASTEs, Gutither. 



P. PCLVKRULEMUS, Boie. 



Viviparous. Scales smooth, in 17 rows. Two prrroculars. Two postoculars. 

 Nasal single. 8 iippi-r labials, the third, fourth and fifth entering the orbit. Colour 

 uniform dark umber brown, with some liglit reddish patclu's and black spots down the; 

 back. Throat, belly and tail brown. Some yellow about the sides. Throat and 

 each alternate ventral white-spotted. Or sometimes uniform ochraceous, and below 



