372 COLUBEID^E. 



"lot. p. 191 ; Anders. An. Zool. Res. Yunnan, p. 

 Chrysopelea paradisi, Boie, 1. c. p. 647. 

 Leptophis ornatus, Cantor, J. A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 934. 



Snout much depressed, squarely truncated. Bostral broader 

 than long, visible from above ; internasals nearly as long as the 

 prsefrontals, but much narrower : frontal bell-shaped, nearly as 

 long as its distance from the end of the snout, as long as the 

 parietals or slightly shorter ; loreal small and elongate ; one prae- 

 and two postoculars; temporals 2 + 2; upper labials 9 or 10, fifth 

 and sixth, or fourth, fifth, and sixth, entering the eye ; 5 lower 

 labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are a little 

 shorter than the posterior. Scales smooth or faintly keeled, in 17 

 rows. Ventrals 204-236 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 118-138. 

 Varies greatly in colour ; the following principal varieties occur in 

 British India : 



a. Black aboA'e, each scale with a round greenish-yellow spot ; 

 these spots larger (coral-red in life) on the back, resembling a 

 series of tetrapetalous flowers ; ventrals greenish yellow, edged 

 with black (Anaimalai Hills and Malay Peninsula). 



b. Greenish yellow, lineolated, each scale with a black median 

 streak, and more or less distinct black cross bands ; ventrals 

 yellow, with a small black spot on each side (Khasi Hills, 

 Burma, Anaimalais). 



c. Like the preceding, but with a series of large coral-red or 

 orange blotches along the back (Ceylon). 



d. Pale olive above, with black transverse bars ; a small black 

 spot on the side of each ventral (Ceylon). 



All the specimens have the head black with yellow cross bars. 



Total length 4| feet ; tail 14 inches. 



Hob. Ceylon, Anaimalai Hills, Bengal, Khasi Hills, Assam, 

 Burma, Siam, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. 



This snake is found as well on the ground between grass as on 

 low bushes and trees. It feeds almost exclusively on Geckos, and 

 is of gentle disposition. 



Subfamily IV. HOMALOPSIN.E. 



Thoroughly aquatic Opisthoglypha with the nostrils on the upper 

 surface of the snout. Hypapophyses developed throughout the 

 vertebral column. 



The range of this subfamily appears to be restricted to Southern 

 China, the East Indies, Papuasia, and Xorth Australia. Of the 

 nine genera, 7 occur within the limits of the Indian Fauna, the 

 two others being restricted to Siam (Herpeton, Lacep.) and Borneo 

 (Homalophis, Ptrs.) respectively. The young are brought forth 

 alive in the water. 



