558 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TORAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIX. 



Gunther originally believed it, however I prefer for the present to 

 leave it as placed by Boulenger. 



Variety A. — Body striped longitudinally. The belly unspotted. 



Subvariety (a). — Striped longitudinally with no variegation, and few 

 and obscure, or no cross-bars. (Fig. 2 of our Plate.) 



Subvariety (IS), — More or less variegated with short, oblique, lighter 

 and darker streaks, which tend to arrange themselves into cross-bars. 

 More or less distinctly striped longitudinally. (Fig. X of Diagram.) 



Subvariety (c). — Like the last but with twin roundish spots placed 

 side by side on the back. (Fig. Y of Diagram, and Fig. 1 of Plate.) 



Variety B. — With a median dorsal series of roundish spots. No 

 longitudinal stripes. Belly spotted near the edge of most of the 

 ventrals. (Fig. Z of Diagram.) 



Subvariety (a). — We have shown a good example in figure 2 of our 

 plate. The ground colour is buff, and four more or less obvious pale 

 brownish stripes pass down the body. The two upper and broader 

 pass from the nape where they are confluent to the tail tip. On the 

 body they involve the edge of the vertebral, and the two and a half 

 adjoining rows. The lower and narrower stripes pass from the neck to 

 the vent, and are placed on the contiguous halves of the 2nd and 3rd 

 rows above the ventrals. The pale vertebral line is continuous, and 

 confined to the middle of the vertebral row except anteriorly where 

 it expands to the margins of the uppermost costal row. In many ot 

 these specimens, and perhaps in all an indication of the cross-bar- 

 typical of the next form may be seen if looked for in the anterior pari 

 of the body. The belly is pearly-white and unspotted. The head is 

 marked with 3 dark chevrons ; of these the anterior passes across the 

 prefrontals, and reappears beneath the eye, the median lias its apex 

 on the frontal shield, and its limbs pass obliquely backwards to the 

 gape, frequently blending with the posterior, which is the broadest 

 and situated on the nape, its apex extending forwards to the parietals. 

 These chevrons are usually complete, and discrete but may be more or 

 less incomplete, or confluent. A dark streak (omitted by our artist) i> 

 always present on the 6th, or between the 6th and 7th supralabials, 

 and there is frequently a streak in the suture between the 1st and 2nd 

 supralabials. This form appears uncommon, and I only know of it 

 from Ceylon. 



Subvariety (6). — Forma Typica. This is the tceniolata of Jerdon 



