666 COLTJBRID2E. 



from the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals ; 

 loreal very elongate; one large praeocular; two postoculars ; 

 temporals 2 + 3 ; 9 or 10 upper labials, two of which (fifth and 

 sixth or sixth and seventh) enter the eye ; 6 lower labials in con- 

 tact with the anterior chin-shields, which are much longer than 

 the posterior. Scales in 25 or 27 rows, smooth or faintly keeled. 

 Ventrals with a lateral keel, 236-263 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 

 138-149. Bright green above, the scales usually finely edged 

 with black, pale green below ; a blackish streak along each side of 

 the head, passing through the eye ; tail usually yellowish brown. 



Total length 7 feet 8 inches ;' tail 19 inches. ' 



Hab. Tenasserim, Andamans, Nicobars, Malay Peninsula and 

 Archipelago. Dr. Stoliczka, who observed this snake in the forests 

 of the Andamans, says it is generally seen on bushes near brackish- 

 water creeks, and is always ready to take to the water. 



Genus XENEL APHIS, 



Gunther, Kept. B. I. p. 250, 1864. 



Teeth subequal in size, 22 to 25 in each maxillary. Head 

 moderately elongate, distinct from neck ; eye moderate, with round 

 pupil ; head-shields normal, with a subocular below the pnieocular. 

 Body elongate, cylindrical ; scales smooth, without apical pits, in 17 

 rows, the vertebral row enlarged and six-sided. Ventrals rounded ; 

 tail long ; subcaudals in two rows. 



Only one species. 



415. Xenelaphis hexagonotus. 



Coluber liexahouotus, Cantor, J.A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 921. 

 Coryphodon sublutescens, Dum. Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 187. 

 Xenelaphis hexahonotus, Git-nth. ILept. B. 1. p. 258, pi. xxi, fig. C. 

 Ptyas hexagonotus, Theob. Cat. p. 168. 



Rostral broader than deep, visible from above ; suture between 

 the internasals nearly as long as that between the prsefroutals ; 

 frontal as long as its distance from the end of the snout, a little 

 shorter than the parietals ; loreal nearly as long as deep ; one 

 praeocular, with a rather large subocular below, wedged in between 

 the third and fourth upper labials ; two postoculars, with a large 

 subocular below, separating the eye from the fifth and sixth labials ; 

 a third subocular occasionally present, separating the eye altogether 

 from the labials ; temporals 2 + 2 ; normally 8 upper labials, fourth 

 entering the eye ; 4 or 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior 

 chin-shields, which are as long as the posterior. Scales in 17 rows, 

 smooth. Ventrals 185-198 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 140-179. 

 Brown above, with black cross bands, which become indistinct 

 with age, on the anterior half of the body, old specimens showing 

 mere traces of the outer ends of these bands ; lower parts uniform 

 yellowish. 



Total length 5| feet; tail 2 feet. 



Hab. Arrakan, Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Java. 



