18 JUL'BNAL, ^ATIRAL BIST. SOCIKTY OF STAM V<d L 



ihey bite fieicply, and nltliougli tliey alwa3's retain a certain amount 

 of tlieir shyness in captivity, do not attempt to bite afterwards. 

 Those I have kept lived invariably upon a branch or bough placed in 

 their cage, and seldom descended to the earth. 



F(i(hJ. Further observations on this point are wanted. Major 

 Wall says he knew of a frog taken once, and lizards ( Ma'iaia, 

 (Jalotes) twice. I have found a small mouse in the stomach of one. 

 At "the Ditches^' lizirds of any kind are seldom met with. Frogs 

 abound, except in the driest months. The undergrowth there is 

 extremely thick for the greater part of the year, and during- the 

 December floods the whole place is usually under water. In cap- 

 tivity mine lefused all food. 



lienijUi. The largest specimen I have seen measured 9t5 mm. 

 in total length, tlie tail being 22-") mm. 



Color (in life). Above, bjff, with four well defined dark 

 brown stripes, each 1^ scales wide and edged with black, passing 

 down the entire length of the body an<l tail. The two median 

 lines commence at the internasal shields, the two outer pass 

 throu"h the eye and along the flank. In some specimens the 

 inner margins of the median stripes become obliterated, and in a 

 large female in my possession those bands are fused into a single 

 broid one. Below, yellowish white, with a tine black line at the 

 iiiar«Mns of the vential shields. I'pper labialt^, whitish. The whole 

 snake has a fine polished appeaiance, and the body isS particularly 

 solid and compact. Interstitial bk n in life, is never visible, 

 Ildbital. India, Ikirma and Siam. 



(Tu be continued. ) o 



^^ 



