THE SNAKES OF BANGKOK. 



BY 



MALCOLM SMITIL m.k.c s., l.k.c.p. 



Subfamily. BIPSABOMOBPIIIN.^K 

 oO. Dipsadomorphus multimaculatus. 



Siamese ^ ^^ {n<iu shv/) ? 



A rare snake iu Bangkok, Mr. Tatner tells me that several 

 years ago, when the grass was being cut at the Sports Club, a small 

 l)atch remained which the men were afraid to enter owing to some 

 very fierce snakes which they said were in it. He went out with tlie 

 men, and as the cutting was completed and the snakes driven forth, 

 killed no less than 13 of this species. I have never seen any other 

 specimens from Bangkok. 



This snake bears a superficial resemblance to Hussell's A'iper, 

 and at a casual glance might be mistaken for it. Russell's Viper, 

 however, is a much heavier snake, and the spots are larger, more 

 distinct, and somewhat differently arranged. In lepidosis the two 

 species are entirely different. 



Length. The largest specimen I have seen came from Sanam 

 Cheng and measured 890 lum. in total length. It appears to be longer 

 than any previously recorded. 



Color. Light brown or greyish brown above, with two series of 

 roundish dark brown dorso-lateral spots, and a series of smaller spots 

 or short cross bands on either flank. These spots are usually paler in 

 the centre, and are edged with white. Below, whitish or yellowish, 

 spotted and speckled with pale brown. Head with a blunt A- shaped 

 mark above, and with a dark band from the eye to the angle of the 

 mouth. 



Dlstrihution. Froiu Southern China and Burma to the Malay 

 Peninsula and Archipelago. 



