1899.] 



KEPTILES or THE ilALAY PENIJSSULA ASD SIAM. 



695 



218. Lachesis purpueeomacuxaxus (Gray). 



Lachesis piirpui-tomaculatus, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, iii. p. 553 S. 

 FJower, P. Z. S. 1«96, p. 896. 



Dr. Hanitsch records this snake from Singapore, Pulo Brani, 

 and Pulo Samba (Jiep. Eatfles Mus. & Libr. 1897, p. 10). 



Hah. Himalaj'as, Bengal, Assam, Burma, Andamans, JS'lcobars^ 

 Malay Peninsula, Sumatra. 



219. Lachesis gramineus (Shaw). 



Lachesis qramineus, Blgr. Cat, Snakes, iii. p. 554 ; S. Flower, 

 P. Z. S. 1896, p. 896. 



Siamese. " Ngu kheeyo " = " green snake." 



" Ular dauu "' of the Malays {apud Cantor). 



Localities. This Green Viper is the poisonous snake most often 

 seen about Bangkok, where it is fairly numerous ; about ten indi- 

 viduals were caught in my garden alone in about twelve months. 

 The British Museum Catalogue mentions specimens obtained at 

 Pachebone and in the Laos Mountains by M. Mouhot. It is ap- 

 parently the commonest Lachesis in Penang (Cantor, Stoliczka, 

 Van Sommereu, and S. S. F. [at 2000 ft. elevation]) and Province 

 Wellesley (Stoliczka and S. S. F.), but at Singapore (from which 

 place it is recorded by Cantor, Blanford, and Hanitsch) it is rare, 

 its place being taken by L. wagleri. 



Description (notes on). 



Colour (in life). Bangkok specimen. — Above usually very bright, 

 grass-green, sometimes rich dark green with ill-defined blackish 

 cross-bands. A light yellowish line is sometimes present along 

 each side. Lower parts bright electric blue, pale bluish green, or 

 bright grass-green. Upper part and end of tail dull red. Sides of 

 head from below the eye to the corner of mouth blue. Labials 

 bright grass-green or blue. Lower surface of head in some in- 

 dividuals white, with shades of cobalt-blue. The eye is very 



45* 



