194 DR. N. ANNANDALE ON 



The young of E. johnii are of a briliant brick-red colour in life, with black cross 

 bars on the back. The adults differ considerably in this respect, especially as regards 

 the ventral surface, which may be almost white or densely crowded with dark brown 

 atoms. The colour of the dorsal surface only varies in intensity. 



Large individuals seem to be liable to a disease of the tail, which is very frequently 

 distorted even under natural conditions ; while in captivity it sometimes becomes covered 

 as if with mould. 



Lycodon striatus. 



A specimen was brought me at Pamben. Its coloration in life was practically iden- 

 tical with that of the example from Ceylon recently described by Green ' ; but it is said 

 that in specimens from Malakand the pale markings are bright yellow during life, 

 although they fade rapidly in spirit. A model in the Indian Museum, prepared from a 

 specimen and description furnished by Major Maynard, I. M.S., is coloured in this way. 



The snake appears to be rare wherever it is found. Thurston " records the common 

 Lycodon aulkus from Rameswarem, but I did not see a specimen. 



Zamenis mucosus. 



A large specimen was brought me at Ramanad, where I am told it is not uncommon. 



The coloration of this individual differed somewhat from that of specimens from the 

 damper parts of India, the dorsal and lateral scales all over the body and tail being 

 golden brown at the base, and the head scales being suffused with the same shade. The 

 whole animal had, therefore, a sandy tinge, which did not, however, appear to be suffi- 

 ciently developed to be actually protective in function. 



Dendrophis pictus. 



Common on Rameswarem Island and on the mainland. It seems to be more 

 strictly arboreal in Ramanad than it is in the Malay Peninsula, where it is common on 

 bushes a few feet above the ground. 



I have lately dissected a considerable number of specimens both from Southern India 

 and from the Andamans, and I find that in two of these specimens (one from each 

 locality) there are only twenty teeth in the maxillary. This observation breaks 

 down the separation between Dendrophis and Dendrelaphis, but as the species of both 

 genera are easy to distinguish from one another, the matter is not one of importance. 



An examination of living and fresh specimens from the Andamans, sent to Calcutta 

 by Major A. R. Anderson, I M.S., shows that at any rate the majority of examples from 

 these islands belong to a very distinct colour variety, which was accurately described by 

 the late Dr. J. Anderson :i under the varietal name andamanensis. Without examination 

 of the scales it would be hard to believe that Major Anderson's specimens from Port 

 Blair and mine from Ramanad belong to the same species. The following is Dr. Ander. 

 son's description of the coloration of D. pictus var. andamanensis : — 



Spolia Zeylanica, ii, p. 205. ' 2 Madias Cuvt. Mus, Bull. IB, 1S95. 3 Pruc. Zoul. Soc. 187!, p. 184. 



