1870.] Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Eeptilia. 211 



the colouring is found to be quite the same, and in some of tripu- 

 dians the temporals are in position, size and number perfectly iden- 

 tical with those of elaps. This last, when disturbed, raises the 

 front part of the body exactly like a Cobra, but does not distend 

 the neck to any considerable extent, though it has it distinctly 

 flattened, as is also the case in some varieties of tripudians. 



The young of 0. elaps is so thoroughly different in coloration 

 from the full grown snake, that few would hesitate in considering 

 it a new species. Dr. Day obtained N. E. of Moulmein a specimen 

 (see fig. 7, pi. xi ) measuring 20^ inches, of which the tail is 

 3£ inches, ventrals 262, anal very large, subcaudals 87, the first 5 

 entire, the others bifid. The head is broader and flatter, as com- 

 pared with that of adult specimens, the snout is remarkably short, 

 blunt, the occipitals longer than in any old specimens I have seen ; 

 other shields and scales normal. The coloration is pure jet black, 

 the snout, a band in front of the eyes, a third posterior to them, 

 broken up into large spots, a forth across the posterior end of the 

 occipitals broken up into six spots, 32 narrow equidistant rings on 

 the body directed forward along the dorsal line, and 1 1 rings on the 

 tail as well as its extreme tip are yellowish white ; chin and throat 

 uniform yellowish ; the rings of the body become much wider on the 

 belly, leaving only black bands of 2-4 shields width between them ; 

 on the posterior part the black prevails, the white bands become in- 

 terrupted, but on the tail the rings are again complete. Dr. Gr u n- 

 t h e r notices the coloration of a young 0. elaps, but as it is not 

 usually known, I have given a figure of the specimen alluded to. In 

 the old snake the white bands gradually become less distinct and 

 sometimes nearly quite disappear, the black colour being also re- 

 placed by uniform brown. The general character of coloration of 

 the young elaps most markedly recalls that of Xenurelaps ban- 

 guroides, of which we as yet only know young specimens. 



70. Naja tripudians, M e r r. (Gr u n t h., 1. cit. p. 338). 



A young specimen, (14 inches of which the tail is 2£ inches) 

 from the neighbourhood of Kotegurh (elevation between 5 and 

 7000 feet), is uniform olive grey above, whitish below, with three 

 blackish cross bands on the neck, on the upper side of which only 



