126 



COLIJBRID.E. 



nearly as long as the praefrontals ; frontal once and two 

 thirds to twice as long as broad, longer than its distance 

 from the end of the snout, as long as the parietals ; loreal 

 as long as deep or deeper ; 1 prae- and 3 postoculars, tem- 

 porals 1-f 1 or 1 + 2; 8 upper labials normally, third, fourth, 

 and fifth entering the eye ; -5 or 6 lower labials in contact 

 with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the 

 posterior. Scales strongly keeled, outer row smooth, in 19 rows. 

 Ventrals 120-161 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 50-89. Greenish or 

 brownish olive above, with more or less distinct black spots or 

 reticulated cross-bars intersected by two yellow longitudinal bands. 





J^V 





Fig. 43. — Troindonotu& sfolafiis. 



which are best marked posteriorly ; praj- and postoculars yellowish ; 

 lower surfaces white, usually with a black spot on each side of 

 each ventral shield. 



Total length 680 niillim. ; tail ISO. 



India and Southern China to the Malay Peninsula and Archi- 

 pelac^o. On record from Penang and Singapore. Appears to be 

 rare in the Malay Peninsula. 



Of gentle habits, feeding on frogs. Eggs few, up to about 10. 



The allied T. vittatns, L., which inhabits Java and Celebes, has 

 been erroneously reported from Penang by Stoliczka(Journ. Asiat. 

 Soc. Bengal, xlii, 1873, p. 114), who quotes Glinther (Colubr. 

 Snakes) as his authority. No such mention, however, occurs in 

 anv of Giinther's works. 



130. Tropidonotus subminiatiis. 



Schleo;. Phys. Sevp, ii, p. 313 (1837) ; Giinth. Rept. Brit. Ind. 

 p. 2(55 (IBlU) ; BouleDg. Faun. Brit. lud., Kept. p. 347 (1890) ; id. 

 Cat. Sn. i,p. L'56 (1893) ; S. Flower, P. Z. S. 1899, p. 062. 



Eye moderate or rather large. Eostral t\\ice as broad as deep 



