TRE SNAKES OF BANGKOK. 101 



Len<jth. Up to 1120 mm. The tail is short, measuring about 

 one-seventli of the total length. 



Color (in life). Above, very dark olive-green, sometimes almost 

 black, with regular cross-burs formed by chains of yellow or brown 

 spots, and less well-defined longitudinal lines produced b}^ a median 

 spot in each scale. The dark ground-color tapers on the sides into a 

 series of transverse bars, which are prolonged to the mid-line on the 

 bell}^ but are continuous beneath the tail. The notches thus formed 

 are deep yellow in color, the ventrals, pale yellowish or whitish. 

 Head brown, labials and chin-shields yellow, the scales edged with 

 black. 



This description applies to the young and young adults, but as 

 age advance-^ the dorsal bars and lines tend to increase in size and 

 obscure the ground color, so that in old specimens the pattern is 

 seldom apparent. 



The drawing of the head is by Mr. C. L. Groundwater, to whom 

 1 am also indebted for all the other drawings in connection with this 

 article. 



Blstrihidion. Siam, Indo-China aud the Malay Peninsula. 



23. Hypsirhica jagorii, 



Flower, in his list, mentions three specimens of this snake which 

 he obtained in Bangkok. 



Distribution, Siara and Indo-China. 



24. Hypsirhina smithii. 



This snake, of which only one specimen has so far been ob- 

 tained, is described for the first time on page 69 of this JournaL 



25. Hypsirhina chinensis. 



Boulenger, in his Catalogue of Snakes, mentions a specimen from 

 Bangkok which is in the Christiania Museum. 



Distribution. Siam, Indo-China and China. 



26. Homalopsis buccata. 



The commonest of all the family of fresh water snakes in 

 Bangkok, and as regards length, the largest. It is frequently met with 



