166 



Coluber metanurus, Boulenger, Cat. Sn. II 1894^ P- 60. 



Elaphe melanura, Barbour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv. Coll. XLIV 1912, p. 117. 



Rostral more broad than deep, visible from above; internasals 

 shorter than the praefrontals; frontal as long as or longer than 

 its distance from the tip of the snout, shorter than the parietals; 

 loreal as long as deep or a little more long; a large prae- 

 ocular; two postoculars; temporals 2 -f- 2 or 2 + 3; nine upper 

 labials, fourth to sixth entering the eye; five or six lower 

 labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields; latter as long 

 as the posterior. Scales in 19 rows, 21 on the neck, strongly 



OTObt.es. 



Fig. 42. Coluber melanurus Schleg. Young specimen. Nat. size. 



keeled; ventrals 193 234, with an obtuse lateral keel; anal 

 entire; subcaudals 89 115. 



Brown or greyish anteriorly, with a reddish, black-edged 

 vertebral band; dark brown or black posteriorly; on each side 

 a series of black spots anteriorly? the markings disappearing 

 in the adult; head with a dark streak below the eye; an 

 oblique streak from the eye to the mouth and another on the 

 temporal region and the neck. Lower surface yellow anteriorly, 

 brown or blackish behind. Young specimens with a series of 

 black ocelli with yellow centres on each side of the body 

 anteriorly. Length of head and body 1400 mm.; tail 460 mm. 



