696 OK THE REPTILES OE THE MALAY PENHfTSTTLA. [May 16, 



conspicuous, with briglit yellow iris and black vertically contracted 

 pupil- 



Hcibits. The Green Viper is a good climber, apparently diurnal 

 and arboreal in its habits ; it feeds on lizards (GeTiyra mutilata) and 

 (I believe) on small birds. We only once found a specimen in our 

 house. Cantor says — " It is generally observed on trees, hanging 

 down from the branches or concealed under the dense foliage ; it 

 preys on small birds and tree-frogs ; but occasionally it descends to 

 the ground in search of frogs and toads." 



Hah. Himalayas, India, Burma, China, Formosa, Siam, Malay 

 Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Lombok, Flores, Sumba, Ombaai, and 

 Timor. 



220. Lachesis sumatrantjs (Eaffles). 



Lachesis stimatranus, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, iii. p. 557. 

 ITah. Malay Peninsula (Singapore), Sumatra, Nias, Sipora 

 (Mentawei Islands), Borneo, Palawan. 



221. Lachesis wagleei (Boie). 



Trigonocephctlus sumatranus, Cantor, p. 121, pi. si. fig. 9. 



Lachesis wagleri, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, iii. p. 562. 



" Ular kapak" of the Malays of the Peninsula (apud Cantor). 



" Ular piickuk" of the natives of Sumatra (apud Cantor). 



Localities. Penang (" it generally occupies the lower parts of the 

 hills, or the valleys, either on the ground or on trees ; but Dr. 

 Montgomerie in one instance observed it at an elevation of 2200 

 feet," Cantor) : and in the Van Sommeren collection I noted several 

 specimens of var. A from Penang Hills, one of var. J) from 

 Penang Hill, 2500 feet, and one from the low country of Penang. 



Taiping, Perak (var. A, British Museum, per L. Wray, jun.). 



Selangor (var. D, A. L. Butler). 



Pahang (vars. A & D, Eaffles Museum). 



Malacca (var. D, British Museum, per D. F. A. Hervey). 



Johore Bahru (var. A, S. S. P. ; var. D, Dr. "Wilson). 



Singapore (vars. A & D, numerous specimens). 



Varieties. The specimens of var. A that I have notes of are all 

 of small size (e. g. 216, 230, 349 & 382 mm.), while those of var. D 

 are of large size (e. g. 762 mm.). Unfortunately, I have not had 

 the chance of looking at the fine series of this species in the 

 British Museum, to see if they agree with the above remark. Is 

 it possible that var. A represents the young and var. D the adult 

 coloration of Malayan individuals of Lachesis luagleri ? 



Colour (in life). Johore specimens of var. A. — Above grass- 

 green, paler green below ; on each side of head, passing through 

 eye, a line of rich red-brown, bordered above with orange ; along 

 each side of neck and body are about 34 vertical bars of rich red- 

 brown, bordered either in front or behind with orange. Tail green, 

 extensively marked with red and orange. Iris yellow, with 

 horizontal brown line. 



Ilab. Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Sirhassen and Great Natuna 

 Islands, Borneo, Palawan, Celebes, Philippines, 



