398 



Zoological Society : — 



them are referable to the fauna of the Indian Archipelago, whilst 

 the remaining six belong to genera which have hitherto been consi- 

 dered as peculiar to the Australian region. Those six are Cyclo- 

 dus, Liasis, Enygrus, Acanthojphis, Biemennia, and Pelodryas 

 {Hyla cyaned), 



Dipsas irregularis appears to be one of the most common Snakes 

 in Ceram. One large specimen had swallowed the egg of a bird, 

 probably that of a middle-sized parrot ; it was but slightly cracked 

 on one end. This Snake has no esophageal teeth. 



Fordonia unicolor feeds on freshwater crabs. 



Enygrus carinatus has twenty-seven series of scales. Schlegel has 

 counted thirty-three. 



Acanthophis cerastinus. — The specimens from Ceram differ from 

 those of the Australian continent in the coloration. They are light 

 reddish olive, with indistinct darker cross-bands in young age ; a 

 series of black dots runs along each side of the front part of the 

 belly and of the tail. The other markings of the head are the same 

 as in Australian specimens ; and as there is no other difference in 

 the form, in the shields, or scales, I consider it merely as a variety, 

 for which I propose the name of ceramensis. 



The two following species appear to be new : — 



Cyclodus carinatus. 



Similar to C. gigas, and with the same elongate temporal shields ; 

 but the scales are larger, there being thirty-two in a series round 

 the body, and fifty in a longitudinal row between the axils of the 

 fore and hind limbs*. The median scales along the back are very 

 distinctly keeled, the keels forming slight longitudinal ridges along 

 the back of the tail. 



Brownish olive, with about ten narrow black bands across the back 

 of the trunk ; sides and belly marbled with black ; limbs black. 



Total length 18 inches, of which the tail measures 8 inches. 



Coluber holochrous. 



Scales smooth, without groove, in seventeen rows. Seven upjoer 

 labials ; two anterior and two jiosierior oculars. Uniform brownish 

 grey ; belly and the outer series of scales dull yellowish. 



Body and tail moderately elongate, but slightly compressed. 



* Cyckdus gigas, from New Holland, has thirty-six series of scales round the 

 body, and fifty-seven or sixty between the fore and hind limbs. 



