184/.] Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 935 



The Variety, in which the black colour prevails, appears to be con- 

 fined to the more southern countries, while that with yellow ground 

 colour preponderating, the one described and figured by Russell, oc- 

 curs in Bengal. The latter has the tongue alternately vermilion and 

 black. Individuals without the frenal shield are not uncommon, and 

 such was the one described by H. Boie as a distinct species (Chrysope- 

 lea paradisi.) It inhabits the Malayan hills and valleys, but is there 

 apparently less numerous than in Bengal. The largest male observed 

 was of the following dimensions : 



Length of the head, ft. If inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, 2 7-f 



Ditto ditto tail, llf 



3 ft. 8f inch. 



Circumference of. the neck, If, of the trunk, If, of the root of the 

 tail, f inch. 



The trunk is covered by 1 7 longitudinal series of smooth, imbricate 

 rhomboidal scales, with rounded points. It is but seldom seen in trees ; 

 it is more frequently found on the ground in the grass, watching for its 

 prey : lizards (Geckonidce*} and frogs. The female has 6 to 8 white, 

 elongated cylindrical eggs, about If inch in length. It differs from the 

 other species in its being deprived of the power of compressing, and 

 expanding the anterior part of the body, and in its gentleness. The 

 young ones never attempt to bite, the adult but seldom, and without 

 raising vertically the anterior part of the body. In the latter the four 

 anterior teeth of the lower jaw are a little longer than the rest, which 

 are uniformly small. 



AQUATIC. 

 Gen. Tropidonotus, Kuhl. 



Head oblong ovate, rather indistinct, depressed ; nostrils between 

 the sutures of two shields ; eyes moderate, with circular pupil, scales 

 of the back lanceolate ovate, keeled, imbricate ; trunk elongated, cylin- 

 drical, tail moderately long, tapering. 



* Vide Ptychozoon homalocephalum, supra. 



