96 Dr. A. Giinther on new Species of Snakes 



rounded behind. Loreal as high as long. One anteocular, con- 

 cave, extending to the upper surface of the head, but not reach- 

 ing the vertical ; three very narrow postoculars ; nine upper 

 labials, the fourth, fifth, and sixth of which enter the orbit. 

 Temporals 1 or 2 + 3. Chin-shields elongate, the posterior much 

 longer than the anterior, and divergent. Ventrals 146 ; anal 

 divided; subcaudals 96. The last maxillary tooth is larger 

 than, and separated from, the others. 



Upper parts greenish olive, with two series of black spots 

 along the vertebral line, and with another series along each side 

 near the belly ; the spots of the latter series are largest anteriorly, 

 where they partly extend on to the ventral shields. Crown of 

 the head with black dots symmetrically arranged ; labial shields 

 with a black hinder edge ; each ventral with a narrow black 

 streak across its base, interrupted in the middle. 



This snake, which we received with the above name from 

 Dr. Bleeker's collection, is from Siboga (Sumatra). The speci- 

 men is 32 inches long, the tail being 11 inches long. 



Limnophis, nov. gen. (Fam. Natricidae.) 



Habit stout, cylindrical ; form of the head as in Tropidonotus; 

 tail rather short. Scales smooth, short, in nineteen rows ; anal 

 and subcaudals divided. A single anterior and two posterior 

 frontals ; loreal present. Maxillary teeth in an uninterrupted 

 series, gradually increasing in size posteriorly, the last being 

 distinctly larger than the preceding, and not grooved. 



Limnophis bicolor. PI. II. fig. C. 



This species is very similar to Neusterophis lavissima, Gthr., 

 a genus to which it stands in the same relation as Astretium to 

 Tropidonotus. The single anterior frontal is triangular, rather 

 longer than broad ; posterior frontals small, scarcely larger than 

 the anterior. Vertical more than twice as long as broad, with 

 parallel outer edges, and with a right angle behind ; occipitals 

 as long as the vertical and posterior frontals together, rounded 

 behind. Nostril between two nasals, lateral, a little directed 

 upwards ; loreal large ; one prseocular, extending to the upper 

 surface of the head, but not reaching the vertical; two post- 

 oculars ; eight upper labials, of which the third and fourth, or 

 the fourth alone, enter the orbit ; the sixth and seventh are the 

 largest, and the sixth is in contact with the occipital, which is 

 bent downwards. Temporals 1+2, none in contact with the 

 postoculars. Chin-shields two pairs, elongate; the posterior 

 much divergent behind, and longer than the anterior. Ven- 

 trals 132; anal 1/1; subcaudals 45. All the upper parts uni- 

 form black ; belly white. 



