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Show 1899.] REPTILES OF THE MALAY PENINSULA AND SIAM. 685 with black both on the sides and underneath. Head above and below lemon-yellow, boldly and extensively marked with intense velvety black above, these marks mostly taking the form of transverse bands. The anterior portion of the neck is greenish yellow beneath. Iris golden or yellowish brown. Inside of mouth red. Tongue red, with black tips and sometimes two transverse dark marks on it further up. Young of Var. D : Yellowish green, with about 118 black transverse bauds, each about twice as broad as the green interspaces ; the scales forming the interspaces and those on the sides are edged with black. Tail extensively marked with black, forming both transverse bands and longitudinal lines. Ventrals with a small black spot on each side above the lateral keel. Head marked as in adults. Hab. Southern India, Ceylon, Bengal, Assam, Burma, Southern China, Siam, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Nias, Sipora (Mentawei Islands), Java, Borneo (I obtained a specimen from Kudat), Celebes, Sulu Islands, Philippiues. 182. CHRYSOPELEA CHRYSOCHLORA (Reinw.). Chrysopelea chrysochlora, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, iii. p. 138. Recorded from Penang and Singapore. In September 1897 I obtained a specimen in the foothills of Gunong Pulai, Johore. Length 739 m m. Colour (in life). Above olive-green, the back ornamented by very distinct bright yellow narrow transverse bands, not extending on to the sides ; these yellow bands are bordered in front and behind with black, and tbe broad interspaces are bright red. These yellow, black, and red markings are most distinct on the anterior quarter of the body, and get fainter further back, but they are distinguishable right to the tip of the tail. The lower surface (between the lateral keels) is pale olive-green. The lateral keels of the ventral scales are outlined in black ; and the part of the ventral scales above the lateral keel is bright lemon-yellow, each scale narrowly outlined with black. Thus between the darker green upper parts and the paler green belly is a bright yellow-stripe along each side, which is continued on to the tail, where it gradually disappears. The upper surface of the head is olive-brown, with a red chevron-like cross-band (with point forward) behind the eyes ; behind this again there is a much smaller chevron pointing backward, and on the back of the head a cross-band, broad in the centre and narrowing to each side ; these three red marks are outlined in black. There is a black line on either side of the head, running from below the nostril, through the lower part of the eye, to tbe angle of the mouth, dividing the dark upper parts of the head from the lemon-yellow lips and lower surface. Hab. Burma, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Nias, Banka, Borneo, Natuna Islands. |