IRIDESCENT SNAKE. 



Coluber Ahaetulla. C. viridi-ccerulcitsnitidimmw, abdominc pal- 

 lido, fascia oculari w'gra. 



Bright blue-green iridescent Snake, with pale abdomen and 

 black streak across the eyes. 



Coluber Ahjetulla. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 387- Mm. Ad. Frid. 

 p. 35. t. 22. 



Serpens ornatissima Amboinensis Boiguatrara dicta. Seb. 2. 

 t. S2./. 1. 



Abdominal scuta 1&5, subcaudal scales 150. 



ONE of the most beautiful of the whole serpent 

 tribe, and, in general, easily distinguished by its 

 blue-green gilded tinge, accompanied by iri- 

 descent hues : its habit is long and slender, mea- 

 suring about three feet and a half, or four feet, in 

 length, and about half or three quarters of an inch 

 in diameter : the skin, between the scales, is 

 blackish, and in some parts gives an additional 

 beauty to the general colour : across the cheeks, 

 passing through the eyes, is a jet black streak : the 

 head is covered above with large scales, and the 

 snout is slightly elongated, but by no means 

 pointed : the abdomen is pale and flattish, as in 

 the mycterizans and some others of this tribe, and 

 the tail is angular, thin, and of very considerable 

 length. This species is entirely innocent, and is 

 a native of several parts of India. 



