102 JOURNAL, NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY OF SIAM. Vol. I. 
by those working in the saw-mills, owing to its fondness for sheltering 
in the large holes that are found in the interior of teak logs. Here, 
where it can lie undisturbed, half-submerged, and in almost complete 
darkness, it no doubt finds an idea! retreat during the hours of day- 
light. In captivity it quickly becomes tame. Its food consists of 
frogs and fish. Flower credits it with more intelligence than most 
snakes and writes that the ones he kept could distinguish him from 
strangers. A female in my possession recently gave birth (Aug. 7th) 
to 9 young ones. They were extremely lively and strongly resented 
my handling them. They were born in the water and were thorough- 
ly at home in it, but the mother sought the land as soon as her 
operations were completed. 
Length. The largest specimen I have seen was a female, which 
measured 1310 mm., the tail forming 275 mm. Length of the young 
just born, taken from the above brood, 325-360 mm. 
Color (in life). Above, dark brown or plum-colored, the color 
ending abruptly on the sides, and with pale, yellowish, dark-edged 
cross-bars, alternately complete and incomplete. Sides yellow, fading 
to pale yellowish or white upon the ventrals, which have a series of 
black dots, placed laterally. Under surface of tail thickly covered 
with black. Head brown, with ill-defined markings, the most pronounc- 
ed being a pale wing-shaped mark on the occiput, a dark V on the snout 
and a dark band passing backwards from in front of the eye. 
In the young the ground color above is quite black, and the 
markings are white and clearly defined. In the old ones they become 
indistinct and may be almost absent, so that the dorsum presents an 
almost uniform brown color. 
Distribution. From Burma and Indo-China to the Malay 
Archipelago. 
27. Cerberus rhynchops. 
T know of a single specimen which was caught at Samrae. It 
is an inhabitant of river mouths and the adjoining sea coasts. I have 
also examined specimens from the sea coast at Bangtaphan and from 
the Inland Sea at Singgora. I do not know of any other records of 
this snake from Siam, 
Distritution. From India and Indo-China to the Malay Ar- 
chipelago. 
