220 Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Reptilia. [No. 3, 



figured specimen it is normal on the left, divided on the right side, 

 the shield, forming the front of the facial pit, being separated from 

 the labial ; in another specimen it is normal on the right, and di- 

 vided on the left side, the labial proper being again separated into 

 two shields. These alterations in the form of the second upper labial 

 are principally to be observed in the banded variety, which will be 

 immediately referred to. The third labial is as usually the largest 

 and the size of the following gradually decreases ; there is mostly 

 only one series of scales between the infra-ocular and the labials, 

 sometimes one or two additional minute shields are interposed. 



The coloration is subject to great variation. Some specimens 

 which appear to be males are more slender than others, and with a 

 proportionately longer tail ; they are dark blackish brown on the 

 head, olive brown above, on the body either uniform or with some 

 of the scales lighter, and with numerous greenish white and dark 

 margined cross-bands, these being either regular, or broken up in 

 halves, these again partially alternating with each other ; there is 

 an indistinct narrow pale longitudinal streak on the neck, and an 

 oblique streak runs from the eye down each temporal region ; a very 

 conspicuous white streak originates at the base of the rostral, 

 ascends to the orbit, passing along the infra-ocular, and then again 

 descends to the angle of the mouth, meeting the temporal streak 

 on the neck and continuing along the bases of the ventrals as a 

 series of white spots, having dark brown spots below them. The 

 sides of the body are marked by two longitudinal greenish white 

 bands, separated by a brown band which is sometimes broken up 

 into streaks and spots. In some specimens, the dorsal cross bands 

 become indistinct, and in others — which are rather stout, with 

 short tails and some of which certainly are females, — the color is 

 above uniform reddish brown, darker on the head, paler at the 

 sides, and sprinkled all over with coral red. Sometimes a narrow 

 yellowish and reddish band is conspicuous along the two outer series 

 of scales on either side. The upper labials are more or less whitish 

 ashy ; a rather indistinct whitish streak margined with black above, 

 and sometimes also below, runs from the eye towards the angle of 

 the mouth. Below, the color is pale yellowish or greyish, densely 

 and finely marbled and freckled with dark and red, especially on the 



