218 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



Some older specimens become almost a uniform brown, with a 

 few black marks dorsally. Specimens preserved in formalin 

 become a deep blue-black in color. I believe that large series 

 from various islands will probably show constant variations 

 of sorts. 



Remarks. — This species is- widely distributed in the Philip- 

 pines. It is known from Luzon (several localities) , Polillo, Ca- 

 miguin, Mindoro, Banton, Bantayan, Mindanao, Samar, Pala- 

 wan, and Bubuan. 



It is widely distributed throughout the Malay Peninsula and 

 Archipelago. The species is probably slightly poisonous, but is 

 not dangerous to man. 



Genus DRYOPHIS Dalman 



Dryimis, part., Merrem, Tent. Syst. Amph. (1820) 136; Dumeril and 



BiBRON, Erp. Gen. 7 (1854) 808. 

 Dryophis Dalman, Oefvers. of Zool. Arb., Stockholm (1822); Fit- 



ZINGER, Neue Class. Rept. (1826) 29; Boulenger, Fauna Brit. 



India, Rept. (1890) 367; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 177. 

 Tragops Gunther, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 305. 

 Passerita Gray, Ann. Phil. 10 (1825) 208; Gunther, Cat. Col. Snakes 



(1858) 160. 

 Psammophis, part., Dumeril and Bibron, Erp. Gen. 7 (1854) 887. 

 Tropidococcyx GiJNTHEK, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. Ill 6 (1860) 428. 



"Maxillary teeth 12 to 15, one or two in the middle much 

 enlarged, fang-like, and followed by an interspace, after which 

 the teeth are very small; one or two posterior grooved fangs, 

 situated below the posterior border of the eye ; mandibular teeth 

 increasing in length to the third or fourth, which is very large, 

 fang-like; the posterior small. Head elongate, distinct from 

 neck, with strong canthus rostralis and concave lores ; eye rather 

 large, with horizontal pupil; nostril in the posterior part of a 

 single nasal; frontal narrow, more or less bell-shaped. Body 

 much elongate and compressed; scales smooth, without apical 

 pits, in 15 rows, disposed obliquely, vertebral row slightly en- 

 larged; ventrals rounded. Tail long; subcaudals in two rows." 

 {Boulenger.) 



Key to the Philippine speeiet; of Dryophif: Dalman.. 



o". Anal divided; 1 preocular; 3 labials entering eye; 3 small lorcals; 



internasal in contact with labial D. prasinus Boie (p. 219). 



a-. Anal single; 2 preoculars; internasals not in contact with labial; 2 



labials enter eye. 



6'. Loreals small; color green, blue-green, or reddish. 



D. preocularis sp. nov. (p. 222). 

 b\ A large loreal below 2 small ones; color gray. 



D. ^riseus sp. nov. (p. 221). 



