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Show 656 MR. STANLEY S. FLOWER ON THE [May 16, 98. PYTHON CURTUS Schleg. Python curtus, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, i. p. 89, and P. Z. S. 1889, pl. xiv. Recorded from Malacca and Singapore. Hab. Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo^ Family ILYSIIDJE. 99. CYLINDROPHIS RUFUS (Laur.). (Plate XXXVII. fig. 3.) Cylindrophis rufus, Cantor, p. 53 ; Blgr. Cat. Snakes, i. p. 135. Siamese. " Ngu-kan-rob," also " ngu-kan-kop." Malay. " Ular dua kapala " = two-headed snake. This curious burrowing snake is not uncommon. I have seen specimens from Taiping in Perak, Kuala Lumpor in Selangor, Johore Bahru, Singapore, and ten individuals from Bangkok. It is also recorded from Penang. The Bangkok specimens had each 21 rows of scales. Habits. At ordinary times this snake is fairly cylindrical in section, aud uses its tail in progression, putting the sharp tip against the ground and pushing its body forward from it; but it has the power of depressing its body, when its appearance is very singular : the neck and anterior part of the body are but slightly compressed, but posteriorly it is very much so. Consequently, when seen from above the outline of the snake is much that of a Sea-snake seen from the side. When touched or worried it will not attempt to strike or bite, but keeps its head flat on the ground, usually hidden under the folds of the body ; its tail, however, it raises off the ground and holds aloft curved over backwards in the most extraordinary manner, so that any casual observer would imagine the tail was the head and think the snake to be threatening to strike. Sometimes the tail is not curved over, but held in the mauner most snakes hold their heads when advancing. In captivity Cylindrophis rufus avoids the light and creeps into any dark corner. Colour (in life). The following description of a Bangkok specimen with no " orange collar-mark" may be compared with that of a Singapore specimen (P. Z. S. 1896, p. 877):-Above intense iridescent black, with three brown cross-bands interrupted in the vertebral line. Below black, with about forty-nine transverse pale yellow bands (turning china-white after death). Only those bands about the middle of the body are regularly formed ; most of those on the anterior and posterior parts do not meet along the middle line. A bright vermilion mark on the tail. Inside of mouth bright red. Size. The largest Bangkok specimen was 732 m m . in total length, but one from Kuala Lumpor measured 825 m m. Hab. Burma, Siam, Cambodia, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes. |