TROPIDONOTUS. 341 



series of reddish-brown or orange spots, and a dorso-Iateral series 

 of black spots ; a more or less distinct chevron-shaped dark mark- 

 ing, pointing forwards, may be present on the nape ; anterior part 

 of belly with large quadrangular blackish-brown spots, posterior 

 part and lower side of the tail clouded with brown. 



Total length 39 inches ; tail 7. 



Hab. Eastern Himalayas (4000 feet), Khasi Hills, Kakhyen Hills, 

 and Pegu Hills. 



This snake is remarkable for its dilatable neck, with the scaling 

 very similar to that of a Cobra, for which, Dr. Giinther says, it is 

 frequently taken. 



Genus TKOPIDONOTUS, 

 Kuhl, in F&ussac, Bull. Sc. Nat. ii, 1824, p. 81 ; Boie. Isis, 1827, p. 518. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 22, posterior longest ; mandibular teeth 

 subequal. Head distinct from neck ; eye moderate or rather large, 



Fig. 100. Head of Tropidonotits piscator. 



with round pupil ; head-shields normal. Body more or less elon- 

 gate, cylindrical ; scales keeled, rarely smooth, in 15 to 29 rows, 

 with or without apical pits ; ventrals rounded ; subcaudals in two 

 rows. 



A large genus, distributed over the greater part of the Northern 

 Hemisphere, together with the Malayan and Papuasiau Islands, 

 and North Australia ; the bulk of the species inhabiting the East 

 Indies and North America. Many of these snakes are aquatic 

 in their habits, and the majority feed on batrachians and fishes ; 

 some are oviparous, others ovoviviparous. 



