320 



BULLETIN 58, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



from Borneo, Sumatra, and the !Malay peninsula so far as the scale 

 formula is concerned, which in four specimens is as follows: 25 scale 

 rows, 278-295 ventrals, 94-111 subcaudals.'^ 



Description. — Adult male; U.S.N.M. No. 14608; Korea; Dr. N. M. 

 Ferebee, collector (fi2:s. 273, 274). Rostral slightly broader than high, 

 largely visible from above; internasals longer than broad, half as large 

 as prefrontals, which are narrowly in contact with supraocular; frontal 

 equaling its distance from rostral, a little shorter than interparietal 

 suture, somewhat broader in front than behind; parietals longer than 

 the distance of frontal from tip of snout, strongly convergent be- 

 hind; nostril rounded, large, between two nasals, the posterior slightly 

 larger than the anterior; loreal lozenge-shaped, longer than high; one 

 preocular, not in contact wath frontal; one small subpreocular; two 



Figs. 273-274.— Elaphe t.eniurus. IJ X nat. size. 273, top of head; 274, side of head. 



No. 14608, U.S.N.M. 



postoculars; temporals 2+3 (on left side 2+4); eight supralabials, 

 posterior ones not specially enlarged, fourth and fifth entering eye; 

 six lower labials in contact with anterior chin-shields (on left side 

 seven), fu'st pair rather elongate; chin-shields subequal; 25 rows of 

 scales, of which the outer seven on each side are smooth or nearl}^ so, 

 the others feebly but distinctly keeled; 229 ventrals, with a distinct 

 lateral angle; anal di\4ded; subcaudals. 111 pairs. Color (in alcohol) 

 pale olive clay-color above; on the middle of the back a black rope- 

 ladder pattern, consisting of two narrow lateral black lines at regular 

 intervals connected by a black cross line of approximately the same 

 width, this pattern gradually disappearing on the posterior third of 

 the body; on the sides two or three ill-defined series of irregular black 

 spots which on the posterior third of the body graduall}^ consolidate 



o- Two of the specimens, the scale formulas of which are here included, viz, Doctor 

 Fischer's two original specimens, now in British Museum, have respectively 278 and 

 282 ventrals and 98 and 94 sul)caudals according to Boulenger's count. Fischer him- 

 self, in the original description, counted 281-284 ventrals and 101-104 subcaudals. 



