1847.] Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 1035 



Bungarus annularis, Daudin. 

 Aspidoclonion, Wagler. 

 Bungarus annularis, Schlegel. 



Ground colour bright gamboge ; the anterior half of the head, and 

 the cheeks black with steel blue reflections ; from the vertical shield a 

 black longitudinal band, expanding over the neck and sides, and with 

 the former forming a broad arrow mark ; lips and throat gamboge, 

 upper lips edged with black ; the rest of the body completely surround- 

 ed by a number of broad, alternate gamboge and shining black, rings. 

 Iris black ; tongue flesh-coloured. 



Scuta 200 to 233, Scuta abdominalia 32 to 36. 

 Habit. — Pinang, Malayan Peninsula. 



Java, Tenasserim, Bengal, Coromandel. 



The neck is covered by 17, the trunk by 15 longitudinal series of 

 smooth scales, which with the exception of the dorsal hexagonal series, 

 are imbricate, rhombic. As noted under Flaps bivirgatus, Far, the 

 larynx is not attached to the scabbard of the tongue. Of three young 

 individuals from the valley of Pinang and Province Wellesley, the largest 

 was of the following dimensions : 



Length of the head, ft. If inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, 3 5 



Ditto ditto tail, 4f 



3 ft. lOf inch. 

 Circumference of the neck 2, of the trunk 3f, of the root of the tail 

 2, of the apex If inch. 



In the Malayan countries the species of Bungarus are not numerous, 

 but 2?. candidus, and fasciatus are of no uncommon occurrence in Bengal 

 and on the Coromandel Coast, where, however^ it should be observed, a 

 class of the natives ("serpent-charmers,") earn a livelihood by captur- 

 ing and exhibiting serpents, but this craft is unknown among the 

 Malays. The preceding three species, like the rest of the venomous 

 serpents, are very ferocious when attacked, but unprovokedly they are 

 not known to attack man : on the contrary, when met in the jungle, 

 they attempt to escape. When trod upon, or struck, their rage 

 is instantly excited, in self-defence they will even turn from their retreat, 

 and then their habitual sluggishness is roused to furious activity. 



G s 



