Variations in the head-shields of nine specimens.
i. 2. 8. 4. 5. e. 7. 8. 9.
Upper labials. . . . 8 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 8
1 1 & 2 1 1 1, 2 &3 2 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 2 & 3 3 3
Temporals . . . 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 & 2 2
In contact with postoculars . 3 3 3 1 & 2
1. The first variety is one in which the loreal is prolonged into the orbit and
is surmounted by one preocular which reaches the head. Its temporals are 2 + 1
+ 2; the anterior shields are in contact with three postoculars. The occipitals are
rather more elongated than in some other specimens; eight upper labials; third,
fourth and fifth orbital.
2. One preocular, but the shield on one side is nearly divided in two. Temporals
2 + 1 + 3; the anterior shields in contact with the two lower postoculars; third,
fourth and fifth orbital. Vertical with the lateral margins straight convergent.
3. One preocular. Temporals 2 + 2 + 1 in contact with three postoculars.
Lateral margins of vertical slightly concave; eight upper labials; third, fourth and
fifth orbital.
4. One preocular. Temporals 2 + 1 + 2 in contact with three postoculars.
Upper labials 7; the third and fourth orbital. The seven labials are evidently produced
by the fusion of the third, fourth and fifth labials. The vertical is rather
shorter than in the others, and its form is more sharply defined, its lateral margins
being very straight and convergent; eight upper labials; third, fourth and fifth orbital.
5. One preocular. Temporals 2 + 1 + 2 in contact with the postoculars.
Vertical with its lateral margins slightly convex and three posterior angles rounded.
6. Two preoculars on one side, three on the other. Temporals and vertical as
in No. 4 ; eight upper labials; third, fourth and fifth orbital.
7. Two preoculars. Postoculars two on one side and three on the other ; tern-,
porals on one side 1 + 1 + 2, on the other 2 + 1 + 3 . In the former case, in
contact with lower, in the latter, with the two upper postoculars. Lateral margins
of vertical as in No. 3; upper labials eight; third, fourth and fifth orbital. In this
specimen it is evident that the superior of the two anterior temporals is a separated
portion of the occipital.
8. Three preoculars. Temporals irregular. One small plate wedged between
the two lowest postoculars. The sixth labial with an elongated temporal behind it
and another above it, touching the middle and superior postocular. Vertical slightly
elongated with the posterior angles (lateral margin) rounded. Labials eight; third,
fourth and fifth orbital,
9. One preocular. Temporals 2 + 1 + 2 in contact with the two superior
postoculars. Vertical labials and orbital as in the preceding specimen.
This species ranges to Assam, the Ehasia Hills and Sikkim; but it appears to
have a greater numerical development to the east than towards the west, and from
the circumstance that it is rare in the valley of the Irawady, it may be considered
to be a mountain form,
The Tropidonotus junceus, Cantor, from Penang, the type of which is in the
British Museum, has one preocular reaching the upper surface of the head, and the
rostral prolonged backwards. I t is quite distinct from this species. .
Tropidonotus qtjincunciatus, Schleg.
Russell, Ind. Serp., vol. i, 1796, pi. xx, pi. xxviii & pi. xxxiii; vol. ii, 1801, pl. iii, fig. 1, juv., &
pis. xiv & xva juv.
Hydruspiscator, Schneid., Hist. Nat. Amph., 1792, vol. i, p. 247.
Hydrus palustri*, Schneid., ibid., p. 249.
Enhydrus piscator, Latr. Rept., 1801, vol. iv, p. 208.
Enhydrus palustri*, Latr. Rept., 1801, vol. iv, p. 205.
Marsh-Hydrus, Shaw, Gen. Zool., 1802, vol. iii, p. 569.
Coluber anastomosatus, Daud., Rept., 1808, vol. vii, p. 140.
Coluber brammus, Daud., Rept., 1803, vol. vii, p. 176.
Coluber umbratus, Daud., Rept., 1808, vol. vii, p. 144.
Coluber bruimeus, Hermann, Obs. Zool., 1804, p. 288.
Coluber atratus, Hermann, Obs. Zool. 1804, p. 288.
Natrix vmbrata, Merr. Tentam, p. 119,1820.
Matrix lugubris, Merr. Tentam, p. 133, 1820.
Matrix piscator, Merr. Tentam, 1820, p. 122.
Matrix palustri*, Merr. Tentam, 1826, p. 124.
Coluber rectangulu*, Gray, 111. Ind. Zool., vol. ii, 1880, plate lxxxv, figs. 4-7.
Coluber hippu*, Reuss, Mus. Senck., 1884, p. 150, pi. ix, fig. 2.
Coluber quincmciatus, Schleg., Phys. Serp., 1887, vol. i, p. 167 ; vol. ii, p. 807, pi. xii, figs. 4 and 5.
Tropidonotus quincunciatus, Dum. & Bibr., Erpét. Gén., 1854, vol. vii, p. 592; Günth., Cat. Colubr.
Sn. B. M., 1858, p. 64 ; id., Rept. B. Ind., 1864, p. 260 ; Steind., Reise Novara, 1867, p. 65 ;
Jan & Sord., Icon. Gén. des Ophid., 1868, No. xxvii, pi. i, fig. i ; Theobald, Journ. Linn. Soc.,
1868,p. 46; id., Descr. Cat. Rept. B. Ind., 1876, p. 175; Stol., Journ. As. Soc., Bengal,
vol. xxxix, 1870, pp. 187> 141 and 190 ; id., op. cit., vol. xl, 1871, p. 431, pi. xxvi, fig. 1, var. ;
id., op. cit., vol. xlii, pp." 114 and 162; Blanfd., Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxxix, 1870,
p. 371.
Tropidonotus tytleri, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxxii, 1868, p. 88.
Tropidonotus striolatus, Theobald, Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxxvii, 1868, pp. 58 and 55.
Tropidonotus piscator, Jerd., Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxii, 1853, p. 580.
The larger specimen has spots arranged as in var. A. Günth., but they become
obsolete about the posterior half of the body, which is uniform light olive-brown.
The angles of the ventrals have blackish margins. The lateral dots instead of being
scarlet are light yellow. The lesser example belongs to the same type of colouring,
but the black spots are indistinct and the yellow ones rather prominent. The lateral
margins of the sub-caudals are black.
Length of lesser specimen 30*33 inches ; head 0*38; tail 9*50.
„ larger „ 36* „ „ 0*88; „ 9*75.
Ventrals in the former 149 and sub-caudals 89.
„ 1 latter 136 „ * „ 89.
They both possess nineteen rows of scales.
These specimens were obtained at Mandalay and Bhamô.