188L] 
AND FROGS FROM SINGAPORE. 
223 
caudais are considerably less numerous, and the tail is much shorter. 
The coloration, too, is different. 
The following^ is a description of the specimen from Singapore 
Three pairs of frontals ; vertical divided ; enlarged irregularly 
shaped plates covering the occipital region. Nostril on the upper 
Burface of the head, between two plates, the hinder of which is very 
small ; a row of sniali scales extends from the nostril to the pye. 
Rostral and the two anterior upper labials on each side with deep 
elongate pits ; ten upper labials j the fifth and sixth enter the orbit. 
Three or four of the anterior lower labials pitted ; a longitudinal 
groove along most of the posterior lower labial Bhielda. 
Scales in 55 rows round the middle of the body, the series oa 
each side of the ventrals being nearly half as broad as the latter. Ven- 
tral'* 17.5 i anal entire ; subcaiidals 32 pairs. 
Colour (in sfiirit). The upper part of the head is uniformly earthy- 
grey, almost ash-grey, with a narrow pale median streak running hack 
for some distance from the occiput ; upper labials the same ; a dark 
brown mark in front of the eye, continued behind the eye and ex- 
panding into a broad brown band, dark at the edges, and especially 
along the upjjor margin ; this band runs dawn the side of the neck, 
and is succeeded by a row of large brown dark-edged spots along 
the anterior portion of the body. Back fawn-colour, with a row of 
rather irregular pale spots along the middle ; below the fawn- 
coloured band and above the dark spots is a light belt with small 
dark brown spots on many of the scales- The coloration of the 
dorsal parts continues to the tnil, wliich is dark brown above, light 
brown below, pale on the sides. Lower parts, except of the tail, 
white. 
In the number of scales round the body, and of the ventrals and 
subcaudals, this form closely resembles the West-African P. regius ; 
but that species, like the other African Pythons, has the nostrila 
lateralJy placed and the four anterior upper labials pitted, besides 
other differences. 
The single specimen receive rl, which is in magnificent condition, 
measures 55 inches in length, of which tlie tail is only 4 ; the 
girth round the middle of the body is 8*5 inches. A specimen of 
jP. reiicnlatus, fi" inches long, has the tail 8 a inches in length, and 
a girth of only h'5 indues- 
Dr. Dennys writes to me that he has seen but two specimens of 
this Pijthon, one of which escaped from its cage and was lost. 
NaJA TRIPTJDIANS. 
Both the specimens in the collection are black throughout, with- 
out any marks on the hack of the hood, but with some pale spots on 
the side of the neck and beneath it. 
Hydrophis stokesi. 
Gunther (Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 363) speaks of the occurrence of 
this species in the Ciunese seas and the East Indian archipelago as 
doubtful. 1 think, however, that two specimens sent must he ?e- 
