98 



SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



differ greatly in shape but are of nearly equal size ; loreal nearly 

 square, touching second and third labials ; 1 elongate preocular, 

 twice as high as wide, and wider at top than at bottom, semi- 

 divided; 3 small postoculars (4 on right side) ; temporals 2 + 3; 

 fourth, fifth, and sixth labials entering eye; mental broadly 

 triangular ; 10 lower labials, sixth and seventh largest ; first 5 

 in contact with first chin shield, which is noticeably shorter than 

 second; 19 rows of scales, the outer largest, faintly keeled, all 

 the others strongly keeled; scales with 2 apical pits easily dis- 

 cernible; anal divided; ventrals, 164; subcaudals, 97; eye very 

 large. 



Fig. 8. Natrix dendrophiops vegroscnsis Taylor: a, head, dorsal view: h. bead, lateral view; 



c, head, ventral \'iew. 



Color' in life. — Reddish brown to olive, with a median series 

 of dark, more or less distinct spots or bars at intervals of 0.5 

 centimeter ; on sides and forming continuations of the dark dor- 

 sal bars is a series of dark spots. Below pinkish white with 

 a series of small, more or less regular black spots on each ven- 

 tral and subcaudal; bars on neck very much wider than else- 

 where; top of head browmish olive; labials brownish white with 

 dark areas between first three ; a distinct black line runs from 

 behind eye to posterior part of eighth supralabial, where it turns 

 and continues downward to first ventrals; scales on head mi- 

 nutely edged with black. 



