282 



SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



scattered over body ; a darker area from occipital region to fron- 

 tal; remaining- part of head a dim reddish yellow color, darkly 

 powdered with brown ; a broad dark line from eye to mouth, with 

 a creamy yellow spot before and behind it, covered with dark 

 minute spots of brown ; a light area on temporal region ; rostral 

 dark; mental brovniish; chin and throat light cream, powdered 

 sparsely with brown. 



i\Ieasurements of Haplopeltura boa (Bote). 



mm. 

 Total length ' 617 



Tail 200 



Head width 11 



Head length 17 



Variation. — There is marked variation in the number of 

 ventrals and subcaudals. Boulenger * records the following 

 range: ventrals, 148 to 170; subcaudals, 88 to 120. This range 

 does not seem to be due to sex variation, as is the case in many 

 species. 



Table 62. — Measurements and scale counts of Haplopeltura boa (Boie). 



Remarks. — This snake has remarkable protective coloration 

 and lives for the most part about dead trees. All specimens I 

 have taken were found in such localities. On being disturbed 

 they would fall to the ground where they would stiffen so as to 

 appear like sticks, and could be picked up, still somewhat rigid. 

 Their imitation of a stick is especially good, since the coloration 

 has the appearance of lichens on dead wood. 



Loc. cit. 



