178 COLUBRID^. 



contact with the frontal ; 2 postoculars ; temporals 2 + 2 ; 9 or 10 

 upper labials, fifth and sixth, or fourth, fifth, and sixth entering 

 the eye ; 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, 

 which are shorter than the posterior. Scales smooth or faintly 

 keeled, in 17 rows. Yentrals 200-238, last usually divided; anal 

 divided ; subcaudals 106-138. Coloration very variable. Head 

 black with yellow cross-bars and spots. Malay specimens black 

 above, each scale with a round greenish-yellow spot or green with 

 the scales black-edged ; usually larger coral-red spots on the back, 

 resembling a series of tetrapetalous fiowers ; ventrals gi-eenish 

 yellow, usually edged with black. Young yellowish green with 

 black transverse bands. 



Total length 1120 millim. ; tail 310. 



India, Ceylon, Burma, and Southern China to Malay Peninsula 

 and Archipelago. Generally distributed in the Malay Peninsula. 



Feeds on lizards, chiefly Geckos, and frogs, occasionally on bats. 

 Some individuals are of gentle disposition, others are quite the 

 reverse. Cantor says this species is remarkable for its gentleness, 

 whilst Captain Flower describes it as the fiercest snake he has met. 

 Although its bite appears to be harmless to man, it has, according 

 to Flower, the effect of stupefying lizards to some extent. It is 

 diurnal in its habits, and may be seen moving about in the hottest 

 midday sunshine. 



According to Cantor, the female lays 6 to 8 white, elongated 

 cylindrical eggs. 



195. Chrysopelea chrysochlora. 



Denclrophis chrysochloros, Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii, p. 231 (1837). 

 Leptophis ornatus, part., Cantor, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, xvi, 



p. 934 (1847). 

 Chrysopelea ornata, part., Giinth, Kept. Brit. Ind. p. 299 (1864). 

 Chrysopelea chrysochlora, Bouleug. Cat. Sn. iii, p. 198 (1896) ; S. 



Flower, P. Z. S. 1899, p. 685. 



Head rather shorter and snout less depressed than in the pre- 

 ceding species. Scales smooth, in 17 rows, less oblique than in 

 the preceding. Ventrals 181-199 ; subcaudals 98-120. Above, 

 with yellow black-edged narrow transverse bands separated by 

 broad bright red interspaces ; head olive-brown above, with a red 

 chevron-shaped cross-band, pointing forwards, behind the eyes ; a 

 black line on each side of the head ; lips yellow ; ventral shields 

 pale olive-green between the keels, bright lemon-yellow on the 

 sides. 



Total length 739 millim. 



Burma, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. Recorded from 

 Penang, Johore, Kelautan, Selangor, and Singapore. 



