EEPTILES OF BRITISH BIRMA. 45 



(probably from the Prome district). It was named in a MS. 

 label by Mr. Carlyle, the late acting Curator; but as several 

 species were confouinded by that gentleman under this name, I 

 have preferred describing it under the name of its discoverer. 



CoMPSOSOMA {Gunther). 



C. RADiATUM, Eeinw. 



a. Adult male. Body . . . 59-00 



Tail . . . 14-00 =73 -00. 



Colour pale but rich red-brown. Interstitial skin of the neck 

 lavender, of the anterior half of the body black, with white re- 

 ticulations, passing into plumbeous and pale grey towards the tail. 

 Three inches from the head four black stripes commence abruptly, 

 two on each side, and taper off to about the centre of the body, 

 where they become indistinct. The central or vertebral pale in- 

 terspace covers four scales in width, the uppermost black stripe 

 three ; and the lower one, after an interspace of two scales, is but 

 one scale broad. The vertebral interspace is paler and more 

 cream-coloured than the rest of the body. Sides of the body 

 dark slaty, extending to the abdomen ; centre of belly white, 

 clouded with slaty. Beneath tail yellowish. Eye grey, pupil 

 black, narrowly margined with gold. When irritated, this snake, 

 previously to striking, compresses its neck vertically (or precisely 

 the reverse of the Cobra, Avhich flattens its hood horizontally), 

 and in so doing displays the finely coloured dark interstitial 

 skin. 



h. Adult female. Body .... Gl-50 



Tail .... 14-00= 75-50. 



This snake contained a few eggs, elongate and fusiform, 2-10 

 long. Cantor states them to bo cylindrical, and one inch and an 

 eighth, which I think must be a mistake, probably a misprint for 

 tioo. 



It is common in Birma, where it is known to the Europeans 

 as the E,at-snake, from its habit of frequenting houses in 

 search of rats. I have sometimes been first made aware of the 

 presence of one of these reptiles in the roof by the alarm and 

 manoeuvres of the rats, who in such cases may be seen hurrying 

 along the rafters, and conveying their young in their mouths 

 from one part of the roof to another, not unfrequently in their 

 hurry, dropping a callow rat on to the table beneath. ' 



