374 COLUBEID^. 



404. Homalopsis buccata. 



Russell, Ind. Serp. ii, pi. xxxiii. 



Coluber buccatus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 377. 



Homalopsis buccata, Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii, p. 337, pi. xiii, figs. 1-3 ; 



Cantor, J. A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 943 ; Dum. $ Bibr. Erp. Gen. 



vii, p. 968 ; Giinth. Kept. Ii. I. p. 285 ; Theob. Cat. p. 185. 

 Ilomalopsis hardwickii, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 05. 

 Homalopsis semizonata, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxiv, 1855, p. 187. 

 Pythonia seraizonata, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxviii, 1859, p. 297. 



Frontal usually broken up into several shields, not much broader 

 than the supraocular ; parietals short ; loreal sometimes divided 

 into two ; one or two prse- and two postoculars ; 1 to 3 suboculars 

 sometimes present ; temporals small, scale-like ; upper labials 10 

 to 12, fifth or sixth usually entering the eye ; two or three pairs 

 of chin-shields in a transverse row, inner in contact with the 3 

 first lower labials. Scales in 37 to 47 rows. Ventrals 160-171 ; 

 anal divided ; subcaudals 70-85. Above with broad transverse 

 dark brown, black-edged cross bands separated by narrow pale 

 brown interspaces, which are whitish in the young ; head pale, 

 with a triangular or V-shaped dark brown mark on the snout, a 

 A-shaped mark on the vertex, and a dark brown band on each 

 side, beginning in front of the eye and passing through it ; belly 

 whitish, with a series of dark brown spots along each side ; tail 

 brown-spotted beneath. 



Total length 3| feet ; tail 9 inches. 



Hab. Pegu, Tenasserim, Camboja, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, 

 Borneo, Java. 



According to Cantor, this snake inhabits small streams, tanks, 

 and flooded fields, is of gentle disposition, sluggish in its movements, 

 and very awkward on dry land. 



Genus CERBERUS, 

 Cuvier, Regne Animal, 2nd ed. ii, p. 81, ]829. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 16, followed by two grooved fangs. Head 

 small, not distinct from neck ; eye small, ^ith vertically elliptical 

 pupil ; snout covered with shields, occiput with scales ; nasals 

 semidivided, the cleft extending from the nostril to the first labial, 

 in contact behind the rostral ; two small internasals (rarely united) ; 

 loreal present. Body stout, cylindrical ; scales strongly keeled, in 

 21 to 25 rows, without apical pits ; ventrals well developed, not 

 keeled; tail moderate, slightly compressed; subcaudals in two 

 rows *. 



A single species. 



465. Cerberus rhynchops. 



Rmsell, Ind. Serp. i, pi. xvii, and ii, pi. xl. 

 Hydrus rhynchops, Schneid. Hist. Amph. i, p. 240. 



* Occasionally partly single, according to Cuvier. 



