1870.] Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Beptilia. 193 



three specimens were all females with nearly quite smooth scales, 

 and from the same locality as those noted above. 



Fam. DENDROPHIDiE. 



50. Gonyosoma oxi/cephalum, Boie, (Gr ii n t h. 1. cit. p. 294). 

 This species is not uncommon in the forests of the Andamans, 



it is generally seen on bushes near brackish water creeks, and is 

 always ready to take the water, like a Tragops. It also occurs at the 

 Nicobars. The colour above has a bluish tinge in some specimens, 

 while the dark eye-streak is sometimes scarcely traceable ; the lower 

 parts are pale green, all the ventrals have the front edgings white, 

 and their lateral angles are also marked by a pale whitish line. 

 The rostral usually reaches to the top of the head and the anterior 

 frontals are obtusely angular and narrow in front. A young specimen 

 from Port Mouat measures 30£ inches, of which the tail is 7 J ; 

 ventrals 241, subcaudals 145. 



51. Dendrophis picta, Gc m. (G ii n th., 1. cit. p. 297). 



The bronze colouring alluded to by Grunther chiefly refers 

 to the epidermis, which is especially in specimens preserved for some 

 time in spirit rather opaque* ; the scales below it are bluish. Not 

 unusually there are ten upper labials present instead of nine. In 

 two specimens, obtained south of Moulmein, the lower lateral black 

 stripe is very distinct, the upper faint, though it begins as a broad 

 black band posterior to the eye, and is also marked in front of it, 

 while on the contrary, the lower strip begins to be distinct only on 

 the posterior portion of the neck and from there extends backward 

 This species is also common at the Nicobars and Andamans ; the 

 insular variety is always beautifully bright yellowish green during 

 life, each dorsal scale is on the posterior half blackish, the cuticle 

 on the adjoining six rows of elongated scales bronze brown, and the 

 scales are more or less margined with black ; the outer series of 

 larger scales and all the ventrals are yellowish green, the latter 

 with a slight bluish tinge. The ante and post-oculars are yellow, 

 the black eye streak is rather thin, and in Nicobar specimens 

 broken up into spots on the side of the throat ; in some Andaman 

 * Of other Dendrophidce and allied genera as well. 



