1870.] Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Reptilia. 197 



band originates at the top of the rostral shield, continues on either 

 side along the supraciliary edge, and up to the tip of the tail ; these 

 two lateral bands are broader than the dorsal ones. A third broad 

 band begins at the base of the rostral shield includes the upper labials 

 and also extends the whole length of the body to the tip of the 

 tail ; these two bands are the widest, and each occupies the base of 

 the ventrals and half the width of the adjoining scale, it is below 

 bounded by a black line which becomes first apparent on the 

 posterior part of the neck. All the other yellowish bands noted 

 above are also black margined. 



Below, uniform yellowish or whitish, sometimes with a faint 

 bluish tinge. 



Fam. Dryophid^e. 



56. Tragops fronticinctus, G ii n t h., (1. cit. p. 304). 



There are in this species slight variations to be observed in the 

 arrangement of the shields, &c. One, or both, anterior points of 

 the anterior frontals touching the nasal are occasionally detached. 

 The so-called detached portions of the anterior upper labials do 

 not as a rule correspond in number and position with the true 

 upper labials ; the latter vary in number from 6-8, each of the two 

 last ones being sometimes (though not commonly) divided into two. 



When alive, the colour is grass green with a yellowish tinge 

 especially on the forepart of the body and a slight bluish tinge 

 along the whole of the under side, except the chin which is white. 

 Theobald, (Journ. Lin. Soc. Zool. vol. X,) says that the colour 

 is " bronze brown" which I never observed, in the live snake at 

 least ; it may be local and refer to very old specimens, or such in 

 spirit. It is a true brackish water species ; I found it abundant on 

 the bushes near the mouth of the Moulmein river subject to the 

 influence of the tide. It is as readily seen diving and swimming in 

 the water, as climbing up a high bush or tree, and hiding itself 

 in the green foliage. It always takes refuge in the water when 

 attacked. 



My largest specimen is 35 inches long, and has 202 ventrals 

 and 142 subcaudals ; these numbers are slightly in excess of those 

 recorded by G ii n t h e r. 



