THE SELANGOR CAVES. 101 
Siam, Sumatra, and Borneo, there are limestone rocks and caves 
not only similar to those of the Peninsula but alsc possessing a 
very similar Fauna and Flora. Indeed it appears highly probable 
that this limestone formation was originally continuous with that 
of the Malay Peninsula. But I notice some very distinct differ- 
ences in the coloring of specimens described in the above-quoted 
works and our animal. Thus in the Catalogue of Snakes the 
animal is thus described: ‘‘ Grey-brown or olive above head and 
nape uniform, anterior part of back with black transverse lines or 
network, posterior part with a pale vertebral stripe between two 
broad black ones, belly yellowish anteriorly, greyish posteriorly, 
a black stripe aloug each side of the posterior part of the belly, 
and along each side of the tail, separated from the upper 
lateral stripe by a whitish stripe.” 
In the parts italicised it will be noticed that there is a great 
difference in color. No part of our snake can be called even 
grey-brown, still less olive, the head has quite a different color 
from the nape, being bluish grey, and there is no trace whatever 
of any black lines on the anterior part of the body. In fact the 
snake as described in the Catalogue is much darker in color 
altogether. I may mention that all the specimens I have 
seen, ten were exactly similar in color. 
It is usual in zoology, at least in the case of most orders of 
animals, to disregard variations in color as of no specific value, 
or at least to mention them merely as color-varieties. But though 
for mere classificatory purposes color is often unsatisfactory as 
a determining character, it is generally of the utmost importance 
to the animal, whose whole life history is more apt to depend on 
its coloring than on the presence or absence of an extra tooth 
or scale. <A constant difference in coloring whether in plants or 
animals means a constant difference in the life of the whole 
organism. Ina case like this, one may I think be safe in saying 
that the cave-snake has been adapted in a most remarkable 
maaner to its exceptional circumstances, and is at least on the 
way to become a species distinct in the eyes even of the 
systematist. 
H. N. Ridley. 
