CEBBERUS. 163 



10 to 12 upper labials, fifth or sixth entering the eye, or narrowly 

 separated from it by subocalars ; 2 or 3 pairs of chiii-shields in a 

 transverse row, inner in contact with 3 first lower labials. Scales 

 in 37-47 rows. Ventrals 158-176 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 70- 

 106. Above with broad transverse dark brown, black-edged cross- 

 bands separated by narrow pale brown interspaces, which are 

 yellow in the young; head pale, with a triangular or V-shaped 

 dark brown mark on the snout, a A-shaped mark on the vertex, 

 and a dark brown band on each side, beginning in front of and 

 passing through the eye ; belly white, shading to yellow on the 

 sides, which bear a series of black spots ; lower surface of tail 

 spotted with dark brown. 



Total length 1050 millim. ; tail 230. 



Cochinchina, Burma, Siam, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. 



Generally distributed in the Malay Peninsula, where it is found 

 in or near water, feeding on fish and frogs. Captain Flower says 

 that this snake when first caught is very wild, but becomes quite 

 tame in a few days, shows more intelligence than most snakey and 

 appreciates being petted. 



Genus CERBEHUS. 

 Cuvier, Regiie Anim. 2nd ed. ii, p. 81 (18i'9). 



Maxillary teeth 12-17, followed, after a very short interspace, 

 by a pair of slightly enlarged, grooved teeth ; anterior mandibular 

 teeth longest. Head small, not very distinct from neck; eye 

 small, with vertically elliptic pupil ; snout covered with shields ; 

 parietal shields more or less broken up into scales ; nasals in con- 

 tact behind the rostral, semidivided, the cleft extending from the 

 nostril to the first or second labial ; two internasals (rarely 

 united) ; loreal present. Body cylindrical ; scales striated and 

 keeled, without pits, in 23 to 29 rows ; ventrals well developed, 

 not keeled. Tail moderate, slightly compressed ; subcaudals in 

 two rows. 



South-Eastern Asia and North Australia. A single species in 

 the Malay Peninsula. 



178. Cerberus rhynchops. 



Hydrux rhynchops, Sclineid. Hist. Amph. i, p. 246 (1799). 

 Homalopsis rhynchops, Cantor, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, xvi 



p. 941 (1847). 

 Cerberus rhynchops, Giintli. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 279 ( 1864) ; Bouleng, 



Faun. Brit. Ind., Rept. p. 375 (1890) ; id. Cat. Sn. iii, p. 16 (1896) 



Frontal distinct or broken up into small shields ; loreal usually 

 in contact with the 3 or 4 anterior labials and with the internasal 

 eye between 4 to 6 shields, separated from the labials by sub- 

 oculars ; 9 or 10 upper labials ; 4 lower labials in contact with the 

 anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields smaller and wedged 



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