110 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



vaisii iridescens, which they would disgorge when captured. 

 The female lays five or six eggs which are about 2 centimeters 

 long when newly laid. These are placed usually under a log. 

 On one occasion a set of eggs was obtained from the interior of 

 a small ant hill at the base of a tree ; when opened the eggs were 

 found to contain embryos almost completely developed. 



The snake is small and inconspicuous and in consequence is 

 not readily recognized as distinct by the Filipinos who class it 

 with certain other snakes to which is applied the name ahas na 

 tulog (sleeping snake) ; this is scarcely appropriate, as the snake 

 is very active and quick to take offense. The Manobos of Min- 

 danao regard it as the young of the black and yellow cobra, 

 Naja samarensis, which they call haguason;' the Ifugaos of 

 northern Luzon regard it as a deadly snake, and manifest great 

 fear of it. The wound made by the bite is rather painful due to 

 the enlarged front teeth. Needless to say, it has no poison. 



The species can be readily recognized by the single row of 

 subcaudals, and the triangular black spots on the belly. 



HOMALOPSIN./E 



Nostrils valvular, on upper surface of snout; dentition well 

 developed ; hypapophyses developed throughout vertebral col- 

 umn; grooved fangs in posterior part of mouth. Aquatic 

 snakes, giving birth to their young. More or less poisonous, but 

 not dangerous. 



This subfamily is confined to eastern Asia, Malaysia, and the 

 Papua-Australian region. It contains about ten genera, most 

 of which contain only single species. Only Hitrria and Fordonia 

 are positively kno'wn to occur in the Philippines. Gerard ia has 

 been frequently included in Philippine faunal lists on the author- 

 ity of Dumeril and Bibron, who report Gerardia prevostiana 

 Eydoux and Gervais from Manila. The specimen so reported 

 very probably originated in Ceylon, or on the Indian coast. 



Key to the PhiUpjnne genera of the Homalopsin.T. 



a'. Nasals in contact; scales keeled _ _ Hurria Daudin (p. 110). 



ft". Nasals separated by an internasal; scales smooth. 



Fordonia Gray (p. 115). 



Genus HUREIA Daudin 



Hydrus, part., Schneider, Syst. Amph. 1 (17!)9) 23a. 

 Hnrria Daudin, Bull. Soc. Pliilom. Paris 3 (1S03) 187; Stb.tneger, 

 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) .304. 



