246 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



in the outer posterior part of nasal with a suture reaching from 

 it to second labial ; nasals large, in contact the greater part of 

 their length ; prefrontals broader than long, touching second la- 

 bials; frontal longer than wide, not as long as its distance 

 from rostral, 'Wider than supraoculars; parietals longer than 

 frontals, touching superior postocular and bordered by 3 tempo- 

 rals, first largest; 1 small preocular; 2 postoculars; 8 upper 

 labials, second very large, touching nasal, prefrontal, and pre- 



b 



a ' c 



Fig. 26. Disteira cyanocmcta (Daudin) ; after Wall; a, head, dorsal view; 6, head, lateral 



view : c, head, ventral view. 



ocular, third, fourth, and fifth entering orbit, seventh smallest; 

 2 anterior temporals, the lower followed by the eighth upper la- 

 bial ; 9 lower labials, the 2 anterior largest, touching first pair of 

 chin shields which are smaller than second pair ; latter in contact 

 half their length ; lower labials from third to ninth small, sepa- 

 rated from chin shields by 3 large scales, the third of which is 

 slightly separated from the second pair of chin shields ; scales 

 imbricating, pointed more or less posteriorly on anterior part of 

 body, truncate on posterior part of body, each scale with a dis- 

 tinct keel or tubercle ; scales largest lateroventrally ; ventrals 

 small, usually a half wider than adjoining scale rows, equipped 

 with 2 or more tubercles; ventrals, 237; anals, 2 pairs, outer 

 largest, not in contact; subcaudals, 49; 31 scale rows on neck, 

 39 on body, 26 on tail ; scute on tip of tail large. 



Measurements of Disteira eymioeineta (Daudin). 



mm. 



Total length 1,080 



Snout to vent 992 



Tail 88 



Length of head 25 



Width of head 13 



Depth of neck 13 



Depth of body 28 



Depth of tail 2" 



Color in life. — Above dull blue, the body traversed by 52 

 yellow-white bars, very dim dorsalh', distinct ventrally ; tail with 



