242 



SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



as wide; 1 preocular in contact with 2 labials; 2 postoculars; 

 2 anterior temporals ; 8 upper labials, second largest, third and 

 fourth entering eye, sixth, seventh, and eighth very small ; mental 

 small, triangular, wedge-shaped; 9 lower labials, last 2 very 

 small (on right side fourth is broken and two small parts 

 border mouth) ; first pair of labials broadly in contact, partially 

 inserted between anterior chin shields; latter in contact poste- 

 riorly; second pair distinct, separated from each other by 2 

 scales; 3 labials border first pair, and 2 or 3 the second pair; 

 scales juxtaposed, usually six-sided, each with a small tubercle; 



Fig. 24. Dlsteira oi'natu (Gray) : drawint,^ of a specimen from Manila Bay; 

 view; b, head, lateral view; c, head, venli-al view. ;•, 2. 



head, dorsal 



34 scale rows on neck; 41 on widest part of body; 25 on widest 

 part of tail; ventrals, 243, somewhat enlarged but frequently 

 divided on posterior part of body ; anus bordered by 3 pairs of 

 scales, the outer pair largest; ventrals grooved, usually with a 

 tubercle on each side ; 44 subcaudals, not differentiated : tail 

 strongly compressed, Avidened at base behind anus. 



Color in life. — Above grayish blue, neck traversed by a few, 

 very narrow, lighter lines ■ the blue extends down about halfway 

 on side, below which the color is uniform yellowish white; tail 

 grayish with eight dim, narrow, yellowish white bars ; the divi- 

 sion between dorsal and ventral color usually a straight line, 

 but in the posterior part the demarcation line is zigzag; head 

 slate blue; rather lavender on chin. 



