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Show 1899.] REPTILES OF THE M A L A Y PENINSULA A N D SIAM. 683 Ayuthia, 1 near Muok Lek in the Dong Phya Fai (elevation 900 feet), 1 at Pachim, 1 at Tahkamen, 1 at Kabin, 1 at Chantaboon, and 3 at Alor Star, Kedah, which is the most southern point where I have seen this variety. A little more to the south, at Kulim and Penang, it seems to be entirely replaced by var. A. Description. No. Var. A. 1. 2, .» o. 4. Var. D. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Locality. Ventrals. Singapore Penang , Kulim, <-J , Singapore Bangkok Alor Star >> »> Dong Phya Fai Tahkamen Bangkok ,, ........ .. ? 226 237 238 228 227 228 226 218 224 227 230 239 231 231 231 Last ve tral. 9 Divided. 9 Divided. Divided. »» »» 99 )> ff 99 Subcaudals. 9 136 V 129 123 125 136 111 123 119 121 118 74 (tip lost) 79 (tip lost) 79 (tip lost) Length. mm. 635 747 911 1235 672 838 889 990 1185 1198 1243 1358 1393 1443 1459 (or 4' 9"*25). Habits. Chrysopelea ornata is the fiercest snake I have met. Under circumstances when most snakes, harmless and poisonous alike, would try to glide awray quietly, this one will turn to attack the person who disturbs it, and will attempt to resist capture to the uttermost, striking and biting ferociously. I have not found the slightest effect on myself from its bite, but it is supposed to have a poisonous effect on the small animals on which it feeds, and, so far as my observations go, its bite has the effect of stupefying lizards to some extent (cf. Boulenger, Fauna Brit. Ind., Reptiles, pp. 223 and 277). Individuals I have at various times tried to keep in captivity showed no signs of becoming tamer, and would always bite my hand when I put it in the vivarium, and being also an annoyance to the other inmates of the cage, I have only kept them for a few days at a time. One Chrysopelea bit itself so hard that its teeth became fixed in the side of its body. This snake is diurnal in its habits, and may be seen moving about in the hottest midday sunshine. I remember only once seeing one on the ground, where it was moving from among some bushes to another clump. Usually it frequents trees, and about seven times |