294 



SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



Griffin in his description has pointed out the differences be- 

 tween T. gramineus and the present species, but makes no men- 

 tion of its relation with T. suynatramis Raffles, with which it 

 has its closest affinity. Unfortunately no specimens of that 

 species are at hand; but, judging from descriptions and also 

 from the figure given by Lidth de Jeude, the following diff'er- 

 ences obtain : 



In Trimeres'urus schtdtzei the young are green with black bars 

 laterally connected with a zigzag black line ; the top of the head 

 is very strongly reticulated with black ; the head is short, the 

 snout blunt; the scales of the outer row are entirely yellow, 

 which color does not extend over either the second scale row or 

 the ventrals ; there are no lateral spots. In the adult the color 

 becomes darker, the green apparently disappearing; the dark 

 markings do not change. 



Table 63. — ■I\Ieasi(i-ements and scale counts of Trimeresurus schnitzel Griffin. 



' Type. 



In T. suviat)ximi.s the white lateral line covers 2 half rows 

 of scales, and the dorsal scales are only slightly keeled. In 



