82 



In this species the external band only is subject to variation, some- 

 times occupying two series of scales, sometimes being very narrow, 

 and nearly obsolete. 



2. Callophis intestinalis (Laur.). 



Aspis intestinalis, Laur. Syn. Amph. p. 106. 



Elaps furcatus, Schleg. Ess. p. 450, pi. 16. f. 12, 13 ; and Abb. 

 taf. 46. f. 1-8. 



This species is subject to great variation. 



a. Javanese variety (PI. XVI. fig. B), figured by Schlegel, brown, 

 with three yellowish lines, — one occupying the vertebral series of 

 scales, and forked on the head, and each of the two others run- 

 ning along the meeting line of the two outer rows. There is some- 

 times, moreover, another reddish-brown line between the third and 

 fourth outer rows. The ground-colour of the belly is stated to be 

 pale green during life. The lower side of the tail is generally uni- 

 form, without black cross-bands. The tail appears to be shorter, 

 with a thicker conical tip. 



There is in the British Museum a specimen, said to have been 

 procured at Hong Kong. It is nearest to this variety, but has two 

 black cross-bands on the tail. 



b. The Malayan variety (PI. XVI. fig. C) is well described by 

 Cantor, Catal. p. 107 ; but this naturalist confounds the ground-co- 

 lour with ornamental colour. In the ' Indian Zoology ' of Gray and 

 Hardwicke this variety is figured with the name of Maticora lineata. 

 The vertebral line is rather broader, not continued on the head, and 

 on the tail interrupted by two black rings, which entirely encircle 

 that part ; the two outer lines, as in the preceding variety. The 

 reddish-brown line, which occurs in some Javanese individuals only, 

 is here constantly to be found, and is very broad, occupying the 

 whole of the fourth and fifth outer series. Cantor has mistaken it 

 for the ground colour : but this appears in narrow brownish-black 

 lines only, viz. on the outer half of the first series of scales, on the 

 second and third, and on the sixth. The ground-colour of the belly 

 is stated to be pale citron. The tail is surrounded by two black 

 rings, which, however, are interrupted by the lateral reddish-brown 

 band ; it is short, slender at the tip, and gradvially tapering. 



Malayan peninsula. 



A specimen, caught in Labuan, and described in ' Contributions to 

 the Nat. Hist, of Labuan, by Motley and Dillwyn,' Lond. 1855, 8vo, 

 p. 45, appears to agree best with the above variety *. 



c. The variety of the Philippine Islands (PI. XVI. figs. A & «) 

 (mentioned by myself, Catal. Col. Snakes, p. 230) perfectly agrees in 

 the form of the tail with that of the Malayan peninsula ; but the colo- 



* In the work mentioned above, some species of Snakes are excellently repre- 

 sented, but not properly determined : — Plate (p. 46) with the name of Dendro- 

 phis picta represents D. caudolineata ; Plate (p. 48) with the name of Dipsas 

 fusca represents D. trigonata ; Plate (p. 49) with the name of Calamaria bra- 

 chyorrhos represents Simotes purpurascens. 



