174 



41. Calamaria linnaei Boie. 



Calamaria linnaei^ Boie, Tsis, 1827, p. 539. " 



Calamaria linnaei^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. II 1894, p. 345 (s. syn.). 



Diameter of the eye equals its distance from the mouth ; 

 rostral as deep as broad; frontal more long than broad, not 

 quite twice so broad as a supraocular, as long as the parietals; 

 one prae- and one postocular; four upper labials, second and 

 third entering the eye, second and fourth largest; mental in 

 contact with the anterior chin-shields; both pairs of chin- 

 shields in contact usually. Scales in 13 rows; ventrals 135 — 163; 

 anal entire; subcaudals 9 — 23. Tail obtuse. 



Reddish or brown above, with black transverse bars, or 



Fig. 67. Calamaria linnaei Boie. Nat size. 

 A specimen with small dark spots and another with dark rhomboidal markings. 



Side view of head. 



with small black spots, with or without a black vertebral line; 

 sometimes this line interrupted by dark, light-edged rhom- 

 boidal markings; the small black spots on the back sometimes 

 regularly disposed in the median line of each scale, forming 

 longitudinal lines; head sometimes with small dark spots and 

 a dark stripe along the upper border of the fourth upper 

 labial. Lower surface red, with or without quadrangular black 

 spots, which may alternate on the median line, or uniformly 

 black. Length of head and body 305 mm.; tail 15 mm. 



Habitat: Sumatra (Pondok Gedek, Palcmbang-district!); 



