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Show 696 ON THE REPTILES OF T H E M A L A Y PENINSULA. TMay 16, conspicuous, with bright yellow iris and black vertically contracted pupil. Habits. The Green Viper is a good climber, apparently diurnal and arboreal in its habits ; it feeds on lizards (Gehyra mutilata) and (I believe) on small birds. W e only once found a specimen in our house. Cantor says-" It is generally observed on trees, hanging down from the branches or concealed under the dense foliage ; it preys on small birds and tree-frogs; but occasionally it descends to the ground in search of frogs and toads." Hab. Himalayas, India, Burma, China, Formosa, Siam, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Lombok, Flores, Sumba, Ombaai, and Timor. 220. LACHESIS SUMATRANUS (Raffles). Lachesis sumatranus, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, iii. p. 557. Hab. Malay Peninsula (Singapore), Sumatra, Nias, Sipora (Mentawei Islands), Borneo, Palaw*an. 221. LACHESIS WAGLERI (Boie). Trigonocephalus sumatranus, Cantor, p. 121, pl. xl. fig. 9. Lachesis wagleri, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, iii. p. 562. " Ular kapak" of the Malays of the Peninsula (apud Cantor). " Ular puckuk" of the natives of Sumatra (apud Cantor). Localities. Penang (" it generally occupies the lower parts of the hills, or the valleys, either on the ground or on trees ; but Dr. Montgomerie in one instance observed it at an elevation of 2200 feet," Cantor) : and in the Van Sommeren collection I noted several specimens of var. A from Penang Hills, one of var. D from Penang Hill, 2500 feet, and one from the low country of Penang. Taiping, Perak (var. A, British Museum, per L. Wray, jun.). Selangor (var. D, A. L. Butler). Pahang (vars. A & D, Raffles Museum). Malacca (var. D, British Museum, per D. F. A. Hervey). Johore Bahru (var. A, S. S. F.; var. D, Dr. Wilson). Singapore (vars. A & D, numerous specimens). Varieties. The specimens of var. A that I have notes of are all of small size (e. g. 216, 230, 349 & 382 ram.), while those of var. D are of large size (e. g. 762 mm.). Unfortunately, I have not had the chance of looking at the fine series of this species in the British Museum, to see if they agree with the above remark. Is it possible that var. A represents the young and var. D the adult coloration of Malayan individuals of Lachesis wagleri ? Colour (in life). Johore specimens of var. A.-Above grass-green, paler green below; on each side of head, passing through eye, a line of rich red-brown, bordered above with orange ; along each side of neck and body are about 34 vertical bars of rich red-brown, bordered either in front or behind with orange. Tail green, extensively marked with red and orange. Iris yellow, with horizontal brown line. Hab. Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Sirhassen and Great Natuna Islands, Borneo, Palawan, Celebes, Philippines, |