184/.] Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 1031 



Habit. — Pinang, Malayan Peninsula. 



In colours the young ones resemble the adult. The neck is covered 

 by 15, the trunk by 13 longitudinal series of smooth rhomboidal scales. 

 The anterior part of larynx, instead of adhering to the upper part of 

 the membranous sheath enclosing the tongue, presents the peculiarity 

 of being free and projecting in the mouth like a small tube. 



Of four individuals observed, the three were from the hills of Pinang. 

 The largest was of the following dimensions : 



Length of the head, ft. Of inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, . . , 2 7f 



Ditto ditto tail, 3f 



2 ft. llf inch. 

 Circumference of the trunk, 1# inch. 



Elaps intestinalis, Va?', E. nigromaculatus y and bivirgatus, Var r 

 appear at Pinang exclusively to inhabit the hills at a considerable 

 elevation, but on the Malayan Peninsula, and at Singapore they occur 

 in the valleys. Although not numerous, they cannot be said to be of 

 rare occurrence. They are strictly terrestrial, and have their hiding- 

 places under the roots of trees, and in the crevices of rocks. They are 

 sluggish, awkwardly dragging their long slender bodies, and they 

 are generally observed lying motionless, with the body thrown in many 

 irregular folds, but not coiled. Although they are diurnal, their sight 

 from the minuteness of the pupil, appears to be as defective as their 

 sense of hearing, and they may be closely approached, without appa- 

 rently their being aware of danger. If touched with a stick, they make 

 a few strenuous efforts to slide away, but they soon stop, and if further 

 pursued, they make some irregular spasmodic-like movements, but they 

 have not been observed to bite. An adult Elaps bivirgatus, Far, was 

 on a single occasion seen to raise the head vertically about two inches 

 from the ground. In captivity they refuse food and water, and die in 

 a short time from inanition. Of a number examined, only one of the 

 latter species had in the stomach the remains of a small serpent, the 

 genus of which could not be determined. M. Schlegel has observed 

 Culamarice in the stomach of Elaps intestinalis. In the peculiar dis- 



