146 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



Meastirements of Holarchus burksi Taylor. 



mm. 



Total length 381 



Snout to vent 334 



Tail ■ 47 



Width of head 11 ' 



Length of head 13 



Remarks. — In markings this species much resembles the Phil- 

 ippine Holarchus ancorus, but is well differentiated by having the 

 single labial entering the eye, the undivided nasal, and the divided 

 anal. Tt agrees with H. ivoodmasont and H. viaculatus in having 

 a single labial entering the eye ; the differences from the latter 

 are pointed out under the discussion of that species ; from the 

 former it differs by a very much reduced number of subcaudals 

 and ventrals and the undivided anal ; the coloration also is totally 

 different. Its clo'sest affinity seems to be with H. beddomii, which 

 also has an undivided nasal and a divided anal. This species 

 differs in having the fourth and fifth labials entering the eye. 

 The markings and coloration are also quite different. The 

 species is named for Mr. Clark Burks, who collected the unique 

 specimen and presented it to me. 



Genus OLIGODON Boie 



Oligodon BoiE, Isis (1827) 519; Wagler, Syst. Amph. (1830) 191; 

 DUMERIL and Bibron, Erp. Gen. 7 (1854) 54; Gunthee, Cat. Col. 

 Snakes (1858) 20; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 205; Jan, Arch. Zool. 

 Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 36; Boettger, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 

 106; Boulenger, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 317; Cat. Snakes 

 Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 233; Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filip:. a^ 1 

 (1895) 426. 



Calaynaria, part., ScHLEGel, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 25. 



Homalosoma, part., Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 33. 



Rhynchocalavius Gunther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1864) 401. 



Tripeltis CoPE, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. 23 (1886) 487. 



Maxillary teeth, 6 to 8 ; the posterior somewhat enlarged and 

 compressed; no pterygoid teeth, the palate being without teeth 

 or with 2 or 3 on each palatine ; head short and not or but slightly 

 distinct from neck; eye small, pupil round;, body cylindrical; 

 scales in 15 or 17 rows; anal single or double; nasal single or 

 double. 



This genus is closely related to Holarchus. there being no sharp 

 dividing line between them. 



Oligodon is a genus with a large number of species distributed 

 from northeastern Africa, through southern Asia, and the Malay 

 Archipelago. Four species have been described from the Phil- 

 ippines. 



