343 
NOTES ON OPHIDIA COLLECTED IN BURMA FROM MAY 
TO DECEMBER, 1899. 
By Capt, F, Watt, I.MS., and Very, Carr, G. H, Evans, A. V. D.. 
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 10th July, 1900.Y 
The following is a list of the Ophidian Fauna collected by us in this 
Province, from 15th May to 31st December, 1899, 
Following the methods of description used by Boulenger in his work on 
this subject, we venture to record only departures from his text, which we 
have observed in specimens that have come before us, in preference to 
writing full descriptions, which would necessitate useless repetition. It will 
be noticed that many of these departures represent peculiarities found in 
abnormal specimens, We append to these, various other matters of interest 
concerning habits, breeding, &c. 
1, Ablabes porphyraceus :—One specimen, obtained from Tiddim in the 
North Chin Hills, Upper Burma, 
Length—37 inches ; tail 63 inches. 
2, Bungarus ceruleus :—Two specimens, obtained from Insein, L.B.", and 
Monywa, U. B.t 
Anterior Chin Shields :—Larger than posterior, and in contact with four 
labials (2). 
Colour.—In one there are pure white cross bands, implicating two or 
three scales in the length of the snake. These bands are therefore much 
wider than in the usual Indian type, and this is without doubt the “ semz- 
fasciatus” of Ginther. 
In the second the colour is widely different from any description we have 
seen, and is as follows :— 
The snake is surrounded with broad uniformly light bands,in which the 
lateral margins of the scales are edged white, so that each band is streaked 
longitudinally black and white. The broadest streak is white and occupies 
about the middle third of the vertebral row. These light bands involve 
six to eight scales vertebrally in the length of the snake, and increase towards 
the flanks, so as to join at the edges of the ventrals, thus enclosing large oval 
black islets, These oval spots or islets are eight to twelve scales broad 
vertebrally. There are eleven light bands on the body, and two on the 
tail. 
' Belly—Uniform white, 
Upper lips, and lore white, 
Tail—Mottled slatish beneath. 
The black colouring exhibits the usual cerulean blue on reflected light. 
Since the beginning of this year, we have received two more specimens 
identical in colour to this second variety, one from the Southern Shan States, 
with fourteen light bands on kody, and two on tail: and one from Meikitila, 
I I SE ET 
* Lower Burma. + Upper Burma. 
19 
