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Show 1899.] REPTILES OF T H E M A L A Y PENINSULA AND SIAM. 657 100. CYLINDROPHIS LINEATUS Blanf. Cylindrophis lineatus, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, i. p. 137. This snake is only known from the type specimen in the Raffles Museum, Singapore, described by Mr. Blanford (P. Z. S. 1881, p. 217, pl. xx.). Hab. Malay Peninsula. Family XENOPELTIDJE. 101. XENOPELTIS UNICOLOR Reinw. Xenopeltis unicolor, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, i. p. 168 (skull figured); S. Flower, P. Z. S. 1896, p. 878. " Ngu saam-paa-teek " of the Siamese. Localities. This remarkable snake is known from Penang Hill (Cantor, p. 54); Province Wellesley (Cantor, p. 54, and Mr. van Sommeren's collection); Kuala Selangor (Mr. A. L. Butler's collection); Pahang (Dr. Hanitsch, Rep. Raffles Libr. & Museum, 1897, p. 9); Singapore (Brit. Mus. Cat.; Peters, Monatsb. Ak. der Wiss. zu Berlin, 1859, p. 269; Rep. Raffles Libr. & Museum 1897 ; and my own collection). The British Museum Catalogue mentions two specimens from Siam ; and I have observed ten Bangkok individuals and one from Chantaboon. Habits. A young snake of this species that I kept alive was fairly quiet from the first, and after one day's captivity never attempted to bite when handled. An adult specimen when excited would twist itself into an irregular pile of tight coils, except the tail, which was held on one side, raised from the ground, and the tip kept vibrating at a great speed. Description. In six Siamese specimens the number of ventral shields was 180, 184, 185, 186, 188, and 196, and of subcaudals was respectively 27 (2nd), 29 (2nd), 29 (1st), 28 (1st), 28 (2nd), and 27 (1st), which were double, except those whose number, counting from the anterior end of the tail, is shown in brackets, which were single. The anal is always divided, and the scales in 15 rows. Colour (in life). The iridescent colours of this snake are most beautiful and wonderful. As it crawls along, the curves of its body flash brilliant lights of emerald-green, copper, blood-red, purple and electric-blue, while the actual colour is a very dark rich coffee-brown. The upper labials and whole lower surfaces are uniform pale yellow. Individuals up to 250 mm. in length have a distinct broad yellow collar, which disappears entirely in adults. Size. The largest Bangkok specimen I have measured was 775 min. in total length, but tbe species grows larger than that. Hab. Southern India, Burma, Siam, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Nias, Java, Borneo, Celebes. |
