60 COLUBRID. 
times nearly smooth in the young), outer rows smooth. Ventrals 
distinctly angulate laterally, 193-210; anal divided, rarely entire ; 
subcaudals 70-96, Greyish olive or pale brown above, with darker 
spots or cross bars, or with a pair of dark stripes running along each 
side of the back; a dark streak from the eye to the angle of the 
mouth ; lower parts yellowish clouded with olive-grey, or olive-grey 
to blackish, the lateral ventral keels always lighter. Some speci- 
mens entirely black, with the exception of the lips and throat, 
which are yellowish. 
Total length 1030 millim. ; tail 240. 
Japan, Corea. 
A. Olive or brown above, with more or less distinct spots or stripes. 
a. 3 (V. 208; A. 2; C. Japan. Leyden Museum. 
88). 
b-d. 3 (V. 204, 204; A. Yokohama. H.M.S. ‘ Challenger.’ 
4, 2; C. 81, 84) & @ 
(V. 200; A.2; C. 70). ; 
e-f. Yg.(V. 209, 200; A. Nikko. C. Maries, Esq. [C.]. 
9.1; C.. 80) 87). 
g. Yg. (V. 195; A. 2; C. Myanoshita,Japan. J. H. Leech, Esq. [P.]. 
80). 
h. Her. (V. 202; A. 2; ra Satsuma, J. H. Leech, Esq. [P.]. 
C. 80). Japan. 
a. 6 (V. 199; A. 2; C. Gensan, Corea, J. H. Leech, Esq. [P.]. 
90). 
B. Uniform black above and below, or blackish above with more or 
less distinct black stripes. 
lL. 2 (V. 200, 202; A. Japan. Leyden Museum. 
1,2; C. 84, 83 3). 
3 (V. 203; A.2;C. Japar Zoological Society. 
n. Ye. (V. 203; A. 2; Japan. Sir R. Owen [P.]. 
C. 83). 
o-p. Yg. (V. 203, 205; Kumamoto,Japan. J. H. Leech, Esq. [P.]. 
A. 2,2; C. 83, 89). 
Came ft us 
. Coluber vir chin 
Coluber ei Bex Phys. Serp. ii. p. 141, pl. v. figs. 11 & 12 
(1837), and Adbild, pl. v. (1837); Bouleng. ’ Faun. Ind., Rept. 
p. 334 (1890). 
Compsosoma melanurum, Dum. § Bibr. vii. p. 299 (1854); Giinth. 
Kept. Brit. Ind. p. 244 (1864) ; Stoliczka, Journ, As. Soc. Beng. 
xxxix. 1870, p. 188; Theod. Cat. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 165 (1876). 
Spilotes melanurus, Giinth, Cat. p. 97 (1858). 
Elaphis melanurus, Jan, Icon. Gén. 21, pl. iv. fig. 1, and pl. v. fig. 1 
(1867). 
Rostral broader than deep, just visible from above; internasals 
as long as broad, or broader, shorter than the preefrontals ; frohtal 
once and one sixth to once and one third as long as broad, as long 
