SERPENTES. Ill 



counts for the ventral scales is slightly increased by this series over what Bou- 

 lenger gave, viz. V. 138-155; C. 47-85. The anal is divided in all examples 

 except one. The coloration of this species shows no marked variation between 

 young and adult. 



This water-snake is locally abundant in the "sawas" or rice-fields. It feeds 

 on frogs and small fish. My records do not show that it was seen at altitudes 

 of more than 1,000 feet. 



This form is known from the Malay Peninsula, Java, and Celebes. 



Natrix subminiata (Schlegel) 

 ScHLEGEL, Essai phys. Serp., 1837, 2, p. 313. Boulengeh, Cat. snakes Brit, mus., 1893, 1, p. 256-257. 



Type locality: — Java. 



A comparison of the scale-counts which Boulenger lias given for specimens 

 from a number of widely separated localities with the conditions in a series of 

 thirty-six specimens obtained about Buitenzorg, Java, during January, March, 

 and April, 1907, and eighteen from the same place taken by Bryant, points 

 strongly to the existence of geographic races within the species. Thus, speci- 

 mens from the type locality, have 143.8 as an average number of ventral scales, 

 and 70.3 for subcaudalS. Ventrals range from 136 to 147, and subcaudals from 

 64 to 74, in the Buitenzorg material mentioned above; U. S. nat. mus. 5425 

 (141-73); several specimens mentioned by Boulenger {loc. cit.); four recorded 

 by Boettger (Semon's Reise. ZooL, 1899, 5, 1, p. 123); and four in this Museum 

 also from Java, — a total of sixty-eight Javan examples. 



This species in its distribution recalls that of Agkistrodon rhodostoma and 

 Geoclemys trijuga, since it is unknown in both Sumatra and Borneo. 



We pass on now to specimens which have been recorded by Boulenger from 

 Tenasserim, Siam, Lao Mountains, and Camboja: seven specimens have as an 

 average number 150.4 ventrals and 77.3 subcaudals. The range of ventrals 

 is 144-157; and that of subcaudals, 73-82. Flower, however, has recorded 

 (Proc. Zool. soc. London, 1899, p. 662-663) six specimens from Bangkok with 

 ventrals averaging 146, and subcaudals 71, the ranges of ventrals being 138-151, 

 and subcaudals 70-73. These combined give an average, viz. 148.2 and 74, 

 higher than that of the Javan specimens, although the range is not widely 

 different. 



Specimens from Hong Kong recorded by Boulenger average V. 138, C. 71.3; 

 range V. 132-143, C. 68-76; while others again from India and the Shan States 

 average V. 165.4, C. 79.7; range V. 163-166, C. 75-86. The specimen in the 

 British museum taken by the Challenger at Ternate has V. 147, C. 70. Finally, 



