SNAKES FOUND IN PALAWAN. 597 



IJarietals dark brown, sui-rounded by a white band which extends onto 

 the jjrtefrontals and internasals. 



Total length 341 millimeters; tail 57 millimeters; .scales in fifteen 

 rows; anal entire; ventrals 216 ; snbcaudals 99. 



Iwahig, Palawan; collected by Mr. W. Schultze. 



This seems to be the first specimen of the genus to be found within 

 the Philippines. Members of the genus are found from southei-n India 

 and Ceylon to Sumatra. In many respects D. pMlippinus is very much 

 like D. trisirigatiis, but the differences are sufficiently great to clearly 

 differentiate the species. D. philippinus differs from all the other species 

 of the genus in the absence of pits on the scales. 



Elaphe oxycephala (Boie).*t 



This species is found recorded within the Philippines only from Pala- 

 wan and Ealabac. It is, however, a widely distributed species, found in 

 the eastern Himalayas, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. 



Elaphe erythrura (D. & B.).t 



Widely distributed in the Philippines; also found in Celebes. 



Elaphe philippina n. sp.*t 



The species iVo^j /if (Coluber) melanura, E. radiata, E. erylhrura^ and 

 E. philippina, form a very closely allied group in which E. pliilippina 

 .seems to be intermediate between E. melanura and E. eri/tlirura. The 

 number of scale rows is the same as in E. erythrura, as well as the general 

 shape and arrangement of scales. The proportions of the head and body 

 are, however, constantly different, and with the markings seem to present 

 sufficient differences for constituting a separate species. 



Scales feebly keeled, the outer row of scales on the body and tail 

 smooth ; rostral slightly bi-oader than deep, broader at the top and more 

 oval in its general outline than in E. erytJu-ura; inter-nasals as broad as 

 long, much shorter than the prsef rentals ; frontal very little longer than 

 broad, as long as or a little shorter than its distance from the end of the 

 snout, shorter than tlie parietals; loreal as deep as long; -one large pras- 

 ocular extending upon the dorsal surface of the head; two small post- 

 oculars; temporals 2-\-2; nine iipper labials, fourth, fifth and sixth enter- 

 ing the eye; five or .six lower labials in contact with the anterior chin 

 shields, which are a little shorter than the posterior. 



Scales in 21 rows on the body and 23 on the neck. Lateral keel of 

 ventrals very obtuse. 



Light brown above ; upper lip and ventral surface yellowish ; the lateral 

 ends of the ventral scales brown; a black streak on the lip below the eye, 

 a black line extending from the eye to the angle of the mouth, and a 

 longer black line extending from the temporals diagonally over the side 

 of the neck: in a young specimen tbe anterior lialf of tlie body is crossed 



