104 BARBOUR: ZOOGEOGRAPHY. 



forms, each in a comparatively circumscribed area. Besides occurring in the 

 Aru Islands, whence the type came, the species occurs on the mainland of 

 Papua, and on the islands of Geelvink Bay. Most specimens have come from 

 the Arfak district, Dutch Papua; and in southern Papua we first hear of it 

 in Boettger's {loc. cit.) report on Semon's collection. Peters and Doria {loc. 

 cit.) record it also from the Dutch Papuan mainland, and also from Ansoes 

 (Ansus), Jobi (Japen or Jappen) Island; and from Kordo (Korido) on Misori 

 (Wiak or Biak) Island, one of the Schouten group. These last records are 

 under the synonymous name C. azureus Maj^er. 



Enygrus asper (Gunther). 



GuNTHER, Proc. Zool. soc. London, 1877, p. 132, pi. 21. Botjlenger, Cat. snakes Brit, mua., 1893, 1, 

 p. 109. 



Type locality: — Duke of York Island, near New Ireland. 



A fine specimen of this striking snake from New Britain is M. C. Z. 6,282. 

 This species is now known from a great part of Papua and various islands of the 

 so-called Bismarck Archipelago. 



Enygrus bibronii Homer, et J acq. 

 Schneider, Hist. Amphib., 1801, 2, p. 261. Boxtlenger, Cat. snakes Brit, mus., 1893, 1, p. 107-109. 



Type locality: — unknown. 



The colors of this form' are exceedingly variable, and the color-phases seem 

 to have no relation to its geographical range. As regards its habits, it is essen- 

 tially a tree-dwelling form. Sluggish and inoffensive when handled, its actions 

 call to mind those of living examples of Kropidophis or Eryx. If disturbed after 

 being placed on the ground, it rolls itself up into a tight ball, remaining thus for 

 some time. When left alone, however, it slowly pushes out its head, gradually 

 uncoils, and moves off into the brush. While visiting Djamna Island off Dutch 

 Papua several examples were observed at rest, during daytime. These were 

 all tightly coiled about small twigs springing directly from the trunk of a good- 

 sized tree, the snake resting against the main trunk. With the tree-boas of the 

 West Indies it is more common to find them resting loosely coiled at the crotch 

 formed by several large limbs. 



The early history of this species is of some interest. It was known as early 

 as 1735, when Seba figured it. Then Schneider described it in 1801. Although 

 he had examined eight specimens, he knew whence none came. Daudin (Hist. 

 nat. rept., 5, p. 222) in 1803 again described it, but followed Schneider, as there 

 were no specimens in Paris. Schneider discussed it again in 1821 (Denkschr. 

 Akad. wiss. Miinchen, 7, p. 118), noting that Merrem (Ann. Wetten. ges., 1810, 



