57 



X. UNicoLOR, Reinvj. The iridescent Earth-Snake. Plate 



IX, fig. 2. 



Ventrals 180, subc. 20-30. Behind the triangular vertical 

 are other similarly shaped large scales. Colour brown, with 

 remarkable iridescent eflfects ; below white or yellowish. 

 Grows to upwards of 3 feet, tail one-twelfth. 



Common in Burma and the Straits, where it replaces 

 the larger Calamaridce and the Erycidce. 



Family VIII.— CALAMARID^. 



Body more or less cylindrical ; head short, not distinct 

 from the neck; tail short, tapering. Scales 13-17 rows. 

 Ventral shields well developed, generally less than 200, anal 

 generally entire ; subcaudals single or double. Eye small 

 with round pupil. Normal number of head-shields always 

 reduced by absence or confluence of one or more, generally 

 the anterior frontals or loreal. Mental groove. Palatine 

 teeth present. Length 12i-24 inches. 



CALAMARIA, Boie. 



Nostril in a single nasal. Loreal none, merged in the 

 frontal; 1 preocular, 1 postocular. Only one pair of 

 frontals, 4 or 5 labials. Scales 13, smooth. Subcaudals 

 double. 



C. SIAMBNSIS, Gthr. 



Ventrals 179-190, subc. 12-20. Labials 4. Brown, with 

 7-11 black lines ; black collar with white or yellow edges ; 

 belly white, brown-spotted. 

 Burma, Sian*. 



C. QUADBiMACULATA, D. and B. 



Ventrals , 136-145, subc. 13. Labials 4. Similar to pre- 

 ceding ; 2 pairs of white caudal spots. 

 Java, Burma. 



