352 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIIF 
We recognize three colour varieties :— 
(a) Olive-brown with large sub-equal quincuncial spots in six rows, 
(the median two often confluent) all equally distinct and con- 
tinued on to tail, diminishing from before backwards, Ventrals 
uniform white or with faint, or distinct, black transverse streaks, 
A black chevron collar, or not, — 
(b) Olive-brown, with one or two lateral rows of black spots, large and 
distinct in neck, and anterior part of body, becoming indistinct 
or lost, ventrals with black transverse streaks, or not, 
(c) Olive-brown, with black spots asin (0), the intervals with sealing- 
wax red blotches. (more pronounced in flanks), sometimes only 
in neck, in others for nearly or whole body length, a chevron 
collar, below which the neck is ochraceous or canary-yellow. 
Head sage green, or bright olive-green. Ventrals with transverse 
black streaks. 
All three types with characteristic subocular oblique streak between oth 
and 7th labials, and oblique streak from eye to behind gape. 
(a) And (6) are the commonest types. Some specimens tend to com- 
bine the characters of two types more or less. 
Ingesta.—Usually frogs, for which it shows a great partiality. We have 
seen it swallowing a mud fish once. 
It is very active, and strong, moving rapidly on land, and in water, 
Excepting Echis carinata, we think it is perhaps the quickest and fiercest 
snake we know. It will strike an offending object with great malice, dilating 
its neck, and rearing its head and front part of the body off the ground, for 
some distance, In one case a snake measuring 2’-10” raised its head 9” at 
least, 
38. Typhlops diardi:—Four specimens obtained in Rangoon, 
39. Xenopeltis unicolor :—Highteen specimens obtained in Rangoon, and 
Districts, L. B.* 
Prefrontals—Asymmetrical, left invariably larger, 
Frontal.—Equals distance to end of snout (4). 
Subcaudals—Invariably a pair, succeeded by an entire seale, behind which 
25 to 27 pairs. 
Length,—3’-53" ; tail 33”. 
Pupil.—Difficult to distinguish in fresh state, owing to the very deep blackisk- 
brown colour of the iris, 
Body.—Ventro-vertebrally compressed. 
Ingesta.—Mouse (1), field rat (1), snake 7’ sfolatus (1). This last was 18” 
long, of which 113” had been swallowed. 
We procured most of our specimens in the rains, July (5), August (5), 
September (2). No doubt, owing to the water-logged condition of the soil 
compelling retirement from their usual subterranean abodes. 
= ~ - a I I NET 
* Lower Burma, 
; 
‘I 
