torte ‘de pee te ite Waleed) Nai ntl : ena Pe OH a he mee ietogalya eb vet ptinansiee in pega taiete aS rate [vioioen ie alvin ae S “ Sehner oeret te io Sioa i sed sadiy 1 Tats a wali tahgouty bate ici " ie sent) bak te sas a8 = — Shy Le ne aires: mak essishsletrbat Sparel tae ota ee lady ma ane mye Agtare i) % ae TAA ein ‘. : oS pg te abe tye Does Ne Sah 6 ‘ —— anette sr aban aetataheas eee Tie be 4 di fi oy 18" “| tial ae tnt ena } oe oe i Be sth ae ieee, Ay 7 ii Sestirn leer fo ay pln tea aay! ees Wiki #5 ais a ie fe Sie sal ete ne tie Se ye Lanyon icett ee ie n RRP EMEA peter i ak ae iS ate a eee = shat Sk Me ‘feta af ea aim a ich! tease lie Cenenee oy aki bed Dl ie ar pone eee pe ci: liter sie aNasae se ae mf phere fr itp a an see ty sn ies Caries pian oer t malice ieee a sees as Masa gels tele Bide ee nen Apri ssugie Or EB obhtae® eh Sie fe ie A iheal lags oni Sina alah tot ote eas ‘4 te seen initiate Pape iain thet si Shep ies lees Fle “4 at Las ea apailin eka ten i ol ma in RIA LORY ue a in ih diaeniie n psec est ce Sime ot 7 peice fiers a ie 1 sate sree i jeans eens Seas we fy eee ts ; ya We isu ye itt de aah Te hats 4 te eit a Ha risen thr ipa ah a os Lien aaa aphirige fr B Tg eee ae is is sehen a Ge nie ig Bayh of whales je ft Sag: ie ee eas Sp hiirdigs bs.) Ta aria 3 ete tae ii ines ats Manet ieee teapot ot enh ips: ie Aer iter a ir oe: ieee a eietaet tagemiots eatenrepepeateatey ine sate a # paar fas meni ih et iba ae vty etic bien Mibesinbobere a fy t otetr ts arate t we lal Pa sent erat loneiiees Pris a SUM gialbca ed tas PAYOR ak fade ei omar anti Smet t Ht iyi anit ft LTS peo mana can an baat . mp asines ba pst Chap ve Sup ba yliv eee eaeininies a raphe hn an et hordyae ribs aah aewbaGenton ef Lh LP oer dp W Usa aan We tite ibn puree facet ap oni eles juss ft aeeepvntae ravine nhoth Wake ames: aire hd avira), fr padonaaioauee i 07 tat Herapenees ten pir ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY NEW YorK STATE COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND HomE ECONOMICS AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY Cornell University Library The snakes of the Philippine Islands, Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924001803299 New York State College of Agriculture At Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y, Library THE SNARES OF THE PHIBIPPINE: ISiaANi)> BY EDWARD H. TAYLOR MANILA BUREAU OF PRINTING 1922 161465 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES BUREAU OF SCIENCE MANILA Publication No. 16 (Actual date of publication February 11, 1922.) PREFACE This monograph is the result of a careful study of about three thousand specimens of Philippine snakes, preserved for the most part in the collection of the Bureau of Science and in my own private collection. Through the courtesy of the directors of the Museo de Santo Tomas and El Ateneo de Manila, I was also able to make a study of numerous specimens contained in their important collections. A few specimens at Silliman Institute, Dumaguete, Oriental Negros, were examined, as well as a few in some of the private collections in Manila. In most cases the descriptions given in this work are of normal Philippine specimens; where no specimen has been avail- able, I have taken a description given by another author. In the definition of genera, I have drawn very largely on Boulenger.* I have also drawn on various other authors and on my own _previous papers for illustrations, and in each case credit has been duly given. Most of the original drawings here published were made by Macario Ligaya. It hag been impossible to examine all the literature treating of Philippine herpetology; but many works are included in the synonymies which I have been unable to examine. It is a matter for regret that I have not had access to European herpetological collections from the Philippines. For the most part, collections in European institutions were studied and re- ported on before the appearance of Boulenger’s work, and in consequence the identifications are frequently incorrect or un- trustworthy. However, the necessity for an examination of the European collections has been largely obviated by Boulenger’s admirable work. I have examined various collections in America, As companion volumes to The Snakes of the Philippine Islands I have prepared The Lizards of the Philippine Islands and Am- phibians and Turtles of the Philippine Islands. It is expected that the three volumes will be published at about the same time. ; EDWARD H, TAYLOR. MANILA, P. I., July 4, 1919. * Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1-3 (1894-1896). } Op. cit. CONTENTS TGGSUSTRATIONS (coo25 chee dace scases cso Savion so ete Re rasa a es es otc ees TNDRODUCTION: 245s ae eo 2 nan crac FATS TORI CA Tio na: Serene roe vod does eA week sons cane: Sobran eas tea eae oP tac acceh BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PHILIPPINE SNAKEG...................c.ccceseeeccceceeeeseeeeteeeees ECONOMIC CONSIDERATION OF SNAKES.......... LocAL NAMES FOR PHILIPPINE SNAKESG............0cc.ccccc-sceeeeeecceseceeneeeeees FAUNAL RELATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF PHILIPPINE SNAKES... SPECIES OF SNAKES ERRONEOUSLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS © eeseccecesteie ieee vestscee aces CLASSIFICATION OF THE SNAKES. ........00...00..cc:222eccceceeeeeeeceeeeeeeeeesceeeeeenees FAMILY TYPHLOPID/ Genus Typlhops Oppel Typhlops: braminus: (Daudiny).. 0.00. cc.0 hee esetseseeasoveeceweiven ecseaeanescaves Typhlops luzonensis Taylor. We Typhlops jagorii Peters... see A eal be os aecns NS evel et Pee Typhlops: muficauda, Pa yl Or 3 eter 28 Ae ey ear ota ae Enos as Typhlops dendrophis sp. nov. yphlops isuluensis: Maylotij....0 ese nce oe ee eee eae Typhlops longicauda Taylor... Typhlops mindanensis sp. nov Typhlops CUMING (GAY) occccccccce ec sccceeseecececsseereseeectesdeciaenseceeenesiee FAMILY BOD Als sccrczevepsseseeveeuez esses SUBFAMILY PYTHONIN2.. Genus Python Daudimn..........0000..........-- a Python reticulatus (Schneider) -.......0..2200..2..2eccccccceceeseeeeeeeeeeeeteeee ee FAMILY XENOPELTIDA................ aaa d a ae dou re nha reece arent cca es vince ea Genus Xenopeltis Reinwardt.........0....0000eee Xenopeltis unicolor Reinwardt FAMILY NATRICIDAL ......2.-.2---00-c0cceeeee ee SUBPAMELY Ai GROGHORDUN AR vn 5o0 555025 aet oars ota caerase doce aetinsc sare ecu deseayab een Genus Chersydrus: ‘Guvieri e222 ne ere nol eee nian photeresea sees cat cane Chersydrus granulatus (Schneider) ....... SUBFAMILY NATRICIN4 ......... Genus Sibynophis Fitzinger a Sibynophis bivittatus (Boulenger) -..........2..20..20000-.22ccseesceeceeeceee teens 6 CONTENTS Genus Natrix Laurenti .................- Natrix stolata (Linnzus).. Natrix spilogaster (Boie) .........2....2:::-:::-20--e eee Natrix chrysarga (Schlegel) Natrix auriculata (Gtinther) Natrix crebripunctata (Wiegmann) ..........-22----:--csceseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet Natrix lineata (Peters) -......0........c-ceececceceecesceccececeeeeeeetcaeenteneeeeeseseneenees Natrix dendrophiops Giinthev..............-...---.---- en Natrix dendrophiops dendrophiops (Gunther: pies Nestsexess Natrix dendrophiops negrosensis Taylor..........--.-..---:-::-11-eeeeeee Genus Oxyrhabdium Boulengev............-...-----::::-:--teeeeeeseceeereee tree Oxyrhabdium modestum (Duméril and Bibron) .........-...2--:2-:-+---- Oxyrhabdium leporinum (Giinther)................-.- Genus Cyclocorus Duméril and Bibron................202..----:1:ecee eee Cyclocorus lineatus (Reinhardt) .........22.2--.2..2--:---2--ce:eeeeeteeeeeeeeees SUBFAMILY HOMALOPSINZ CRS aio oval es Liv chute Wed © F=¥1 0 (6 bo iN ny teem ener a eee or Os Ree eee ere ene Hurria rynchops (Schneider)..... Hurria microlepis (Boulenger). Genus Fordonia Gray................-2---..- Fordonia leucobalia (Schlegel) SUBFAMILY LANGAHINA Genus Ophites: Wacléty2nA0 sae ae acts ea Ophites aulicus (Linnzus) Ophites tessellatus (Jan)... Ophites subcinctus (Boie) Genus: Haplonodon: Griffin. 2.0.2.5. eee es a EE Haplonodon philippinensis Griffin... ole eeeeee cece cece Genus Stegonotus Duméril and Bibron. Stegonotus muelleri Duméril and Bibron Stegonotus dumerilii Boulenger Genus Dryocalamus GUnther.....2.-..cc: acne eee tenis Dryocalamus philippinus Griffin (Gems Aa OCyS; COPS: 2: .i5. sett ee ees seeace cerns, Ete ek Soc re oe UIDs a Oe Zaocys luzonensis Giinther.. Zaocys carinatus Gtinther Genus “Holarchuls; © oper sceies o-ant orcrccnenrgre tae edt are etek. Mau ashe Holarchus meyerinkii (Steindachner) Holarchus ancorus (Girard) Holarchus maculatus Taylovr.. Holarchus burksi Taylor Genus Ohgodon Bolen iio ei i a Oligodon: modestis> Gunther: cycc.c-.cac ese cette cee eee Oligodon notospilus Giinther Oligodon iwahigensis Griffin Oligodon schadenbergi Boettger Genus) “Gonyosoma. “Wager... cco esis oases ecw Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Boie) CONTENTS Genus Elaphe Fitzinger......................- Elaphe erythrura (Duméril and Bibron)... Elaphe philippina Griffin.......22......221.2--eseseseeeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Genus Liopeltis Fitzinger.................. Liopeltis tricolor (Schlegel) Liopeltis philippinus (Boettger) Genus Dendrophis Boie.......................-... Dendrophis pictus (Gmelin) Genus Dendrelaphis Boulenger. .....0.....0...00..0.0cc:cccccssseesseceeeeeseeeeeceeeeeeseeees Dendrelaphis caudolineatus (Gray) Dendrelaphis modestus Boulenger Dendrelaphis terrificus (Peters) Genus Pseudorhabdium Boulenger.............. Pseudorhabdium longiceps (Cantor) ..00......2.22.:2.ccccceccceeeeeececeeceeeeeeeeee - Pseudorhabdium oxycephalum (Gtinther) Pseudorhabdium menamare Taylor... Genus Typhlogeophis Gtinther............20..00..22..c2sccccecceceeeeee eee ceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeneeeeees Typhlogeophis brevis Gtinther. Genus: Calamaria, Bole sc... cc. ce esc cess cs ee ed esce des ees cawsivencesseseer success Calamaria -grayi. Glinther. -..02c2. eens eee renee Calamaria bitorques Peters...... Calamaria gervaisii Duméril and Bibron_.......22222.222..20.2.2..2-:020eeeces Calamaria gervaisii gervaisii Duméril and Bibron Calamaria gervaisii iridescens Taylor. Calamaria suluensis sp. NnovV................---- Calamaria mindorensis Boulengev.........-...........-- Calamaria everetti Boulengev..... x Calamaria mearnsi Stejneger oo. ......2....eecceeceeeeeecceeeeeeeeee Calamaria: tropica: Sp. MOViceseeccce.ceceeesecccscspene cas actecseeeneoees SLIGHTLY POISONOUS SNAKES...... = SUBFAMILY (BOIGIN AD... ..-- Natricidze: | Acvochordinz ----- Ne@tricingcscaht aa ane eao aes x Homalopsinae 2.223: oso s > Coronellinze _____-- Rachiodontinze BOlpinsereee ee eee le Ba Elachistodontine __ Mangahing 2-222 nsledecce eet Fant eset Elapide: Hyd rind exis hacen eee sar seces x|xX]> Blapmre a eek aes ataeeee XxX Amblycephalide ._---_--_----------- ite ieee Cobridze Crotalidas cos ook e cesta Bo ere SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS wy | xx xX xX xX X ‘exjpmng | Xx xX XK X 40 ye | a x Qa | a i] ae QD 9 | . i] ES “eauiny MON i x) x x |x jes Iumae) a ap B 8 “sauB}WElED | : “epues] OsDD | “NING UBABRBD | ‘oBRladiyory nyag | x ‘ABueg | “BOIdON | “oI pULy | “OBUBPUIAY UIO}SAAA | > é -oeuBpulyy uzay nog | “opuRpUIY UIAq ION, \ “susqay | ‘uozN’yT ulayynog | “uoznq [equeg | “OUMOd | “uoZN'T UABYIION | ssourdd iy g ay} Ww bursmas0 saynus fo psauah fo uowngrijsip unouy— ‘uezeg | ‘ueder pue vsow10 7 | “snuory ajay. L MSIIUD ILOU AS OR Soe ae OG BOE gee Pa pens sdojydal Al FAUNAL RELATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION Se aoe as le iale eayee ERP REE RSS aie Fe IE ee Teale oe laa Peal Reale eae coe ene oe er aoa oe eo eee a DIUOPLOT x KIX 2 |x S'S > SG) | SoS | aa Se esate asin Sinan ine ere SNANSIAIULLAT, Staelin | >< ly 3 Ie | ik (ida pe aldini eee aca er 72 3 SCHESS = | | Peter acl thle = tae eae ae ee ml ae oe nee a aes Ty srydouog x | 4 x “7777 snuipbungquuazy x aan > SUS eal | casa fecoe | Fe al feaforoed Ua nil) tare feted Le 2S Fe Ua) be a RC os AA win DEON Be ESR er ete | aster a Ne AE ren Be aa is PE | Sl ere oes RN eis Ee | ete | anya, 2 | Seas Re iene Mabe he kertasea mane snuaphunjag xxx] x ea a) ca bce ace adc aa ele lac 3% 4 | > GPa Tea Seem ee ep Oe ee nee oe pajadoshayd Gh fs ad fanaa fal jad 7 cies asa | es wi hc der ats eh oka N-GAN GD Ma bad Sle a iN cle aa sdorydohug ab ab ap.4 |x > slp | x GI" x | ad (2:22 Raa CE Cra a sajspuh powuUvsg xlx |x] x E : a x SHU labia Vale cee pe aN ee dean ne icine vbiog anlere|ren]--- ee rae © spree ees re Beh Peo a Bs kt all eb we Ee CAS eh le EE ea ea ee ee ea ae ee ee ane es WNYLLIV0]0FT x 1X1XIx iy Aral eel SU RRR CEA Al Arann Se SE AIS A ll cilia tet ee MLE RA ene A a 4? SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS For the most part the genera that do occur are widely dis- tributed in the Philippines. Thus of the thirty-three terrestrial and arboreal forms, seven have not been taken in Luzon nor, with two exceptions, in the Visayan Islands. These are Xenopeltis, Dryocalamus, Sibynophis, Oligodon, Liopeltis, Typhlogeophis, and Haplopeltura. Oligodon has been taken in Negros, and Liopeltis in Samar and in Leyte. These two also occur in the Palawan group TABLE 6.—Genera of snakes approaching, but probably not entering, the Philippines. | Malay Pen- | insula. Philippines. | | Sumatra, ava. Borneo FER ORUS 5a es eS eee Anomalochilu Cylindrophis Spat Acrochordus_ sees eae 2es ONO CCT INUG xs tte ee eae | Stolicrkara: cs ee eee occ Soe | Anoplohydrus ERO CRNOD N18 sxxemewesne hee eeticcas | sasces Achalinus -._-_---.-- Macropisthodon Pseudoxenodon ______-- IV OPOLAD ES: = aa ee eee | Ophisthotyop his anc sevce os wae eos [ease Brachyorrhve-<2- 0.2 ec ecees | een FON SOND CS es ia ee Ree eae Lepturophis Idtopholis .___..-___- Calamothabdium ____ ALOT OD US) 2 ests ne apts < melee topes eek eee a lessee | x tees | Rhabdophidium ___.--.-.-_--__-__- eee ne Ee eee ee ------ ; ail auiden Deut iS tans Gon | © - Callophis | ane Ramey eae eee $3 | BUNGariss «52.45 kind sree Rater dle eae BD (HL TYE aL) | jae ee leone BI Homalopsis Cantoria > 8 = = ie = z c ee «Malay Archipelago. b Western tropical Pacific and China Sea. ERRONEOUS RECORDS 43 and the Mindanao-Sulu group. Of the other genera, Dryocal- amus and Sibynophis are known only in the Palawan group; Xenopeltis, in the Palawan group and the southern Sulu island, Bongao; Typhlogeophis appears to be confined to Mindanao and nearby islands; Haplopeltura occurs both in Mindanao and in Palawan. No table of the distribution of species is attached but the known distribution is discussed under individual species treated in this work. A table is attached showing the distribution of extra-Philip- pine genera, some of which may be eventually taken in the Philippines. SPECIES OF SNAKES ERRONEOUSLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Typhlops philippinus Cuvier, Reg. Anim. 2d ed. 2 (1829) 74; Miller, Trev. Zeits. Phys. 4: 349; Duméril and Bibron, Erp. Gén. 1: 428. This is Rhinophis planiceps. It does not occur in the Philippines. Typhlops diardii Schlegel. El Archipel. Filipino 1 (1900) 675. Does not occur in the Philippines. Typhlops ater Schlegel. El Archipel. Filipino 1 (1900) 675. Does not occur in the Philippines. Python molurus Gray. El Archipel. Filipino 1 (1900) 673. Erroneously recorded. Uropeltis philippinus Cuvier, Reg. Anim. 2d ed. 2 (1829) 76; Duméril and Bibron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 161; Marshall, Atlas. der Thier. (1887) pl. 5; Casto de Elera, ‘Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 424. Rhinophis philippinus Miller. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 424. This is Rhinophis planiceps Peters, found only in Ceylon. Calamaria lumbricoidea Boie. Giinther, part, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus. (1858) 6; Boettger, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1886); Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 425. An erroneous record. Calamaria vermiformis Duméril and Bibron. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 425. Very probably an erroneous record. Calamaria temminckii Duméril and Bibron. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 425. Very probably an erroneous record. Aspidura brachyorrhos Boie. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 426. This species is confined to Ceylon. 44. SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Oligodon sublineatus Duméril and Bibron. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 426. This species is confined to Ceylon and the Nicobars. Ablabes collaris Gray. It is probable that this should be Polyodontophis bivittatus Boulenger, as there are specimens of this species in the Santo Tomas Museum. Simotes russelli Jan (= Holarchus arnensis Shaw). This species is confined to India. Coryphodon korros Schlegel. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 428. This is Ptyas korros Schlegel. It probably does not occur in the Phil- ippines. Coryphodon mucosus Linnezus. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 428. This is Ptyas mucosus and probably is confined to southeastern Asia. Coryphodon fuscus Giinther. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 428. e This species is Zaocys fuscus Giinther and appears to be confined to Borneo. Coryphodon hexanotus Cantor. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 428. This is XYenelaphis hexagonotus Cantor and probably does not occur in the Philippines. Tropigonotus aff. dorsalis Giinther. Miller, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel Mus. (1883) 15. Tropidonotus aff. hypomelas Giinther. Miller, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel Mus. (1883) 15. Tropidonotus schistosus Daudin. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 432. This is a synonym of Helicops schistosus Daudin and is confined to India and Ceylon. Campylodon prevostianum Duméril and Bibron, Erp. Gen. 7 (1854) 964. This is Gerardia prevostianum Duméril and Bibron, and is probably confined to the Indian Ocean. Gonyosoma frenatum Gray. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 432. This is Elaphe frenatum Gray, and is confined to India. Dendrophis punctulata Gray. This species has been included in several lists on the strength of a record by Parenti and Picaglia, Atti. Soc. Nat. Modena Mem. Orig. 5 (1886) 50. Very probably this specimen should have been recorded as Dendrelaphis terrificus Peters, and the record for D. punctulata is un- doubtedly incorrect. Leptophis vertebralis Duméril and Bibron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 543. Iam unable to determine the identity of this species. Passerita mycterizans Linnzus. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 435. This does not occur in the Philippines. CLASSIFICATION 45 Dipsas drapiezi Boie. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 436. This is Boiga drapiezii Boie, and probably does not occur in the Phil- ippines. Dipsas fusca Gray. Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 436. This is Boiga fusca Gray, and is confined to Australia. Lycodon bairdi Steindachner (= Psammodynastes pulverulentus). Lycodon culcullatum Dumeéril and Bibron, Nomencl. Rept. Amph. Mus. Zool. Berolin, Berlin (1856) 27. This is a synonym of Stegonotus culcullatus, apparently confined to New Guinea and Australia. Lycodon modestus part., Schlegel (= part. Steyonotus modestus Schlegel; part. = Stegonotus culcullatus Duméril and Bibron). Neither of the two species occurs in the Philippines. Piesigaster boettgeri Seaone (= Epicrates inornatus Reinhardt). This species was originally described from Panay through a wrongly labeled specimen. It is confined to the West Indies. Elaps intestinalis Laurenti (= Doliophis intestinalis). Reported by De Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 441. This species probably does not enter the Philippines. Elaps gracilis Gray (= Callophis gracilis Gray). This species reported by De Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 441, appears to be confined ta Malay Peninsula and near-by islands. Hydrophis nigrocinctus Duméril and Bibron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 18351. This is Disteira nigrocincta and probably does not occur in the Phil- ippines. Trimeresurus hypnale Duméril and Bibron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1498. This is Agkistrodon hypnale Merrem, confined to Ceylon and India. CLASSIFICATION OF THE SNAKES The scheme of classification followed in this work is prac- tically identical with that used by Stejneger.* Suborder Serpentes. Family Typhlopide. Leptotyphlopide. Boide. Subfamily Pythonine. Boine. Family Anillidz. Uropeltidex. Xenopeltide. Natricide. * Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907). 46 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Family Anillide—Continued. Subfamily Acrochordine. Natricine. Homalopsine. Coronelline. Rachiodontine. Boigine. Elachistodontine. Langahine. Family Elapide. Subfamily Hydrine. Elapine. Family Amblycephalide. Cobride. Crotalide. In the nomenclature of the genera and species the oldest valid name is used in each case, and the variations from the nomen- clature of former works must be construed as due to no other reason than necessity. Suborder SERPENTES Linneeus Serpentes LINNEvS, Syst. Nat. ed. 10 1 (1758) 214. This name appears to be the oldest for this group of animals and is equivalent to the suborder Ophidia of other authors. Key to the Philippine families of the Serpentes. a’. No ectopterygoid bone; teeth in upper jaw only.... Typhlopide (p. 47). a. Ectopterygoid present; teeth in both jaws. b*. Coronoid present; supratemporal large, suspending quadrate; ves- tiges of ‘bind, Vimb Sie nce sessed yee tl Bt en ee Boide (p. 67). 6’. Coronoid absent; no vestige of hind limb. c. A mental groove; maxillary horizontal. d’. Prefrontal bone touching nasal........20.000000.... Xenopeltide (p. 72). @, Prefrontal bone not touching nasal. e’. None of the anterior maxillary teeth grooved or per- TOKaved 2612s Sie ss volo he een Natricide (p. 76). e’*. Anterior maxillary teeth grooved or perforated. Elapide (p. 224). c’. No mental groove; maxillary horizontal... Amblycephalide (p. 280). c. A mental groove; maxillary vertically erectile.... Crotalide (p. 283). NONPOISONOUS SNAKES TYPHLOPIDA Typhlopidz, part., JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 9; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 170; Cope, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. 23 (1886) 481; BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 3. “Cranial bones solidly united; no ectopterygoid; pterygoid not extending to quadrate or mandible; no supratemporal; pre- frontal forming a suture with nasal; maxillary loosely attached, with a few teeth disposed transversely to the axis of the skull; no teeth on palate. Mandible edentulous; coronoid bone present. Vestiges of pelvis, reduced to a single bone on each side. Body covered with uniform cycloid scales; eyes under the shields.” (Boulenger.) The family has three genera: Helminthophis with five species, confined to South and Central America; Typhlophis with one species, confined to South America; and the very large cosmo- politan genus Typhlops. The Typhlopidee are remnants of a large cosmopolitan group of snakes, and represent probably the oldest living types. They 47 48 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS are for the most part diminutive in size, some species of the genus Typhlops never attaining a length of more than 200 milli- meters. They are burrowing reptiles and are to be found about rotting logs and stumps, and burrowing in the earth or in the root masses of aérial plants. They feed on small insects, the larvee and eggs of insects, earthworms, scorpions, and centipedes. The eye is covered by a scale and is frequently dim or invisible in certain species; while in others the eye covering is transparent, and a distinct pupil is visible. Genus TYPHLOPS Oppel Typhlops OPPEL, Ord. Rept. (1811) 54; Gray, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. (1845) 132; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1864) 7; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 172; Perers, Sitz. Ges. Nat. Freunde (1881) 70; BoULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 235; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1, (1893) 7; Copp, Ann. Rept. Nat. Mus. (1898) 715; STEJNBGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 260. Typhlops, part.. SCHNEIDER, Hist. Amph. 2 (1801) 339. Anilios GRAY, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. (1845) 1385. Onychophis GRAY, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. (1845) 32. Onychocephalus DUMERIL and BiBRON, Erp. Gén. (1844) 272; Boetr- GER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 104. Head with enlarged regular plates; nasal shield single, double, or partially divided; prefrontal single; prefrontal, supraoculars, frontal, and parietals rather small, sometimes scarcely larger than body scales; upper labials differentiated, lower labials not or scarcely differentiated from chin scales; mouth narrow, eye usually dim; tail very short. Small burrowing snakes, non- poisonous. Fic. 1. Head shields of typical Typhlopide, Typhlops suluensis Taylor; e, eye,; f, frontal; ip, interparietal; ins, internasal suture; lab, labials; n, nasal; nos, nostril; 0, ocular; par, parietal; pf, prefrontal; po, postocular; preo, preocular; 7, rostral. TYPHLOPS 49 This genus has more than one hundred fifty known species. Representatives are found in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, Europe, Australia, East Indies, Central and South America, and the West Indies. They appear to be absent from North America and New Zealand. The East Indies have twenty known species, two of which, Typhlops braminus Daudin and Typhlops olivaceus Gray, are reported as occurring in the Philippines. The Philip- pines have fourteen well-defined species. They belong to two groups of the genus: one group has the snout rounded in lateral profile, the tail not longer than broad; and the other has the snout with a sharp, cutting edge, slightly hooked, and the tail at least two and one-half times as long as broad. Key to the Philippine species of Typhlops Oppel. o*, Snout rounded; nostrils lateral; tail about as long as broad; no subocular. b*. Preocular in contact with second and third labials. c’. Nasal cleft arising from preocular; nasal completely divided; Scales in, 20) OWS 22 cs cece T. braminus (Daudin) (p. 50). ce’. Nasal cleft arising from second labial; nasal completely divided; SCalGS: In 26 LOWS 2o.c.cscsccccscsseezecedsce ... T. luzonensis Taylor (p. 52). b*. Preocular in contact with third labial only; nasal not completely divided. c. Seales in 28 rows; nasals in contact behind rostral; deep black above, yellowish below.............000..0020.....-. T. jagorii Peters (p. 53). c’, Seales in 30 rows; nasals not in contact behind rostral; reddish brown above, yellowish below............ T. ruficauda (Gray) (p. 54). c’. Seales in 26 rows; nasals not in contact behind rostral; reddish brown above, lighter below...................- T. ruber Boettger (p. 55). c’. Seales in 30 rows; nasals not in contact behind rostral; black above, yellowish below.................-.- T. canlaonensis Taylor (p. 55). a?. Snout rounded; nostrils lateral; tail as long as broad; a subocular pres- ent; nasal cleft arising from second labial; nasal not com- pletely divided; scale rows 28; nasals not in contact behind POStBAL. s2iccoc cies esses ah re tud, Gaesee ema tnre es T. manile Taylor (p. 56). a, Snout with a sharp horizontal edge; nostrils lateroinferior; tail at least twice as long as broad; no subocular. b'. Preocular in contact with second and third labials; nasals not in contact behind rostral. c’. Nasal cleft arising from first labial. ad’. Nasal not completely divided. e’. Tail two and one-half times as long as broad; scales in 20 to 22) TO WS: isc ocaeeeee te ive weno ie T. olivaceus (Gray) (p. 58). e*. Tail three and one-half times as long as broad; scales in 26 TOW. Saceretesirceeecceeer ds che steerer nme ee daa T. rugosa Taylor (p. 58). d*. Nasal completely divided. e’. Tail three times as long as broad; scales in 26 to 28 TONS ee ovarcdad oes e te oscacsaenseudetedovs T. dendrophis sp. nov. (p. 60). 161465——4 50 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS e*. Tail two and two-fifths times as long as broad; scales in DD BROW Glewee ea tenses Cee ah Was T. suluensis Taylor (p. 61). c’. Nasal cleft arising from first or second labials or their interlabial suture; nasal completely divided; tail six to seven times as long as broad; scales in 26 rows..........------ T. longicauda Taylor (p. 63). b*. Preocular in contact with a single labial. c’. Nasal cleft arising from first interlabial suture; nasal not com- pletely divided; tail three and four-fifths times as long as broad; scales in 26 row5S.......0.....00...--0-0- T. mindanensis sp. nov. (p. 65). c. Nasal cleft arising from first labial; nasal completely divided; tail four or five times as long as broad; scales in 24 ROWS os etcece new Soe eS eine Saree ch Rea ceo T. cumingii (Gray) (p. 66). TYPHLOPS BRAMINUS (Daudin) Eryx braminus DAUDIN, Hist. Nat. Rept. 7 (1803) 279. Tortrix russelii MERREM, Tent. Syst. Amph. (1820) 84. Typhlops braminus CuvieR, Régne Anim. ed. 2 (1829) 73; Bovu- LENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 16; Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 236; Borttcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 104; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 254; CAsTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 423; STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 260; Tay tor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 354. Argyrophis bramicus GRAY, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. (1845) 138. Argyrophis truncatus GRAY, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. (1845) 138. <] ‘SJ ws SSP b KS< KS Fic. 2. Typhlops braminus (Daudin) ; after Stejneger; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; c, head, ventral view; d, anal region and tail. Description of species.—(From No. 276, E. H. Taylor collec- tion; collected at La Granja, La Carlota, Occidental Negros, July, 1916, by H. C. McNamara.) Snout rounded in lateral profile, projecting; rostral narrow, its upper portion about one- third width of head, not extending quite to level of eyes; pre- frontal not enlarged, very much rounded behind, separating the nasals by a small distance, scarcely as large as frontal, but of similar shape; frontal a little larger than interparietal, which is followed by a very much larger scale; supraoculars not an- gular, larger than frontal, their lower edge passing near middle of eye; parietals slightly enlarged, larger than supraoculars, followed by a large postparietal; 2 nasals, anterior (or inferior) much smaller than posterior; suture dividing nasals arises from TYPHLOPS 51 preocular ; latter somewhat smaller than ocular, touching second and third labials, and inferior nasal below; ocular large, with eye usually visible beneath it, with a single postocular behind; 4 labials, the fourth largest, all abruptly increasing in size from the first; 5 to 7 scales on lower jaw between angles of mouth; scales in 20 rows around body; body width in body length, 34; tail a little shorter than wide. Color in life-—Pearl gray above, each scale showing an area of brownish gray and one of bluish gray; below the same; with- out close scrutiny it appears a uniform pearl gray. Measurements of Typhlops braminus (Daudin). mm. Total length 154 Tail 2:15 Width of head between eyes 3.25 Body width 4.5 Tail width 4 Variation.—Practically no variation in scalation is observable. In color the specimens vary from black-brown to gray-blue or pearl gray. Some seem to turn whitish before they shed their skin, yet certain newly shed specimens also are of a very light color; in the one described the eye is almost entirely concealed, and the scales on the head and body seem thicker than usual. There are certain lighter tracings which invariably appear under the scales of the head. The fringed markings which follow the rostral and nasal sutures are characteristic of this species; these markings can usually be discerned even in gray specimens, if a small lens is used. One specimen in my collection (No. 277) has a very different appearance from the one described. The head as far as the eyes is a pure cream color; the eyes are visible as minute black dots; the head seems more rounding in upper profile and is thicker than in other specimens. The color on the neck is light brown, gradually merging into the slightly darker brown color of the body. Each scale has a brown spot and a lighter area. No variation from the typical scalation of Typhlops braminus can be discerned. This variation is unique in a lot of more than 200 specimens examined. Remarks.—This is one of the commonest snakes in the Phil- ippine Islands, but it is not evenly distributed. Mr. H. C. Mc- Namara collected more than a hundred at La Granja, La Carlota, Occidental Negros, in a few weeks; at various other localities in Negros I have been unable to find a single specimen, even 52 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS after considerable search. I did not find a single specimen in eastern Mindanao in two years’ collecting. In Mindoro, near Calapan, I found this species in large numbers under rocks after heavy rains. The place failed to yield a single specimen when visited at a later time when the earth was dry. These snakes lay comparatively large, elongate eggs. They feed largely on the larvee and eggs of small insects or earthworms. The species is known from many localities in Luzon, and from Negros, Samar, Mindanao, Mindoro, Palawan, and Busuanga. It is probably found in all the larger islands of the Philippines. Outside of the Philippines it is widely distributed, from South Africa to southern Asia, and throughout the islands of the Indian Ocean and the Malay Archipelago. It is present also in Japan, Madagascar, and Guam. TYPHLOPS LUZONENSIS Taylor Typhlops luzonensis TAYLor, Philip. Journ. Sci. 14 (1919) 105. Description of species.— (From the type, No. 109, E. H. Taylor collection ; collected on Mount Maquiling, Laguna, Luzon, May 12, 1915, by E. H. Taylor.) Head rather flat, broader than neck, lower jaw not or scarcely visible in lateral profile; snout rounded, projecting, rather truncate, its end only slightly less deep than head on a level with eyes; portion of rostral visible above much longer and a little wider than the part below, failing to reach the level of eyes by a minute distance, and minutely less than half the width of head; prefrontal larger than frontal, forming a suture with rostral a little less than one-third its own width, its longest sutures formed with supraoculars; frontal, the smallest head scale, forming equal sutures with interparietal and prefrontal; supraocular about same size as parietal, its lower point barely reaching eye; parietals somewhat narrowed on their lower end; nasal completely divided; nasal suture arises from second labial and after passing nostril reaches rostral in a line horizontal to upper edge of nostril; nasals not in contact behind rostral; preocular reaching above level of eyes, about as broad as ocular, in contact with 2 labials below; its edge crosses over middle of eye; 2 postoculars only slightly differen- tiated from body scales; first labial very small, in contact with anterior nasal only; second labial nearly three times as large as first, touching both nasals and preocular; third labial more than twice as large as second, and a little larger than fourth; lower jaw narrow, about 5 scales on lower jaw between fourth upper labials; eye a visible black spot, very small, with no pupil evident; about 338 scales from head to vent; 10 subcaudal scales; TYPHLOPS 53 tail ending in a small spine; width of body in total length, 58; tail as wide as long; scales in 20 rows. Color in life.-—Above, a reddish olive brown; below, yellowish brown, each scale with a darker yellowish brown area, giving a checked appearance on close examination; rostral, nasal, and labials on underside of snout yellowish white. Measurements of Typhlops luzonensis Taylor. Total length 260 Tail 4 Width of body 4.5 Width of head 4.5 Width of tail ert Remarks.—Only the type specimen is known. The species is obviously related to the group of the genus represented by Typhleps ruficauda, T. ruber, and T. kraaliz, the first two of which are represented in the Philippine fauna. From T. rwfi- cauda it differs in having 4 less rows of scales about the body and the nasal completely, instead of partially, divided. From T. ruber it differs in having the preocular in contact with 2 labials instead of 1, the nasal completely divided, and the length greater in proportion to the width of the body. (Here the width of the body is contained in the total length 58 times, while in T. ruber it is only 36.) From T. kraali it differs in having the rostral much more than one-third the width of the head, and the preocular in contact with 2 labials instead of 1; in color it is also somewhat different from T. kraalii, and the latter is very probably a larger species. The type was collected low on the side of Mount Maquiling, Laguna, Luzon. It was discovered under a rotting log. Noth- ing further is known of its habits. TYPHLOPS JAGORII Peters Typhlops jagorti PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 684; BorTrTcER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 104; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 18; CasTo DE Evera,'Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 423; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 254. Description of species.—(After the type description.) Snout depressed, rounded; nostrils lateral; upper portion of rostral elliptic, about half as broad as head; nasals in contact behind rostral; preocular present, in contact with third labial only; prefrontal larger than frontal; supraoculars smaller than pa- rietal; 4 upper labials, second twice as large as first; 28 rows of scales around the body. Colov.—Above dark black, the underside, lips, and end of tail yellow. 54 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Measurements of Typhlops jagorii Peters. mm. Total length 220 Head length 8 Tail 5 Remarks.—The type was collected by F. Jagor on Mount Isarog, Camarines, Luzon. It is well differentiated from the other Philippine species by the junction of the nasal shields behind the rostral. It is known only from the type. TYPHLOPS RUFICAUDA (Gray) Anilios ruficauda GRAY, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. (1845) 136. Typhlops (Anilios) ruficauda PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 684. Typhlops ruficauda BortTcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 104; Bou- LENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (18938) 29; CAsTO DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 423; Grirrin, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 255. Typhlops dichromatus JAN, Icon. Gén. (1864) 21, 1. 3, pls. 4, 5, fig. 1. ?Typhlops petersii STEINDACHNER, Verh. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien (1867) 515, pl. 13, figs. 7-9. Description of species.—(From Boulenger.) ‘“Snout rounded, moderately projecting; nostrils lateral. Rostral about one third the width of the head, extending to the level of the eyes; nasal semidivided, the cleft proceeding from the second labial; pre- ocular present, as broad as the ocular, in contact with the third labial only; eyes distinct; preefrontal, supraocular, and parietal considerably larger than the scales on the body; four upper labials. Diameter of body 31 to 55 times in the total length; tail as long as broad, ending in a spine. 30 scales round the body.” Color.—‘Reddish brown above; snout, tail, and lower sur- faces yellowish. “Total length 250 millim.”’ Remarks.—The types (one adult, one half-grown, and one young) are in the British Museum. The exact locality from which the types were obtained is no longer known. Peters * reports specimens from Daraga and Paracale, in southern Luzon. Boulenger + has referred Typhlops petersii Steindachner to this species, with a question mark. At the present time I am unable to offer an opinion and propose leaving it a synonym of T. ruficauda. Ihave not seen Steindachner’s description or figures. Known only from the Philippines. The types were probably col- lected by H. Cuming. * Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 684. { Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 29. TYPHLOPS 55 TYPHLOPS RUBER Boettger Typhlops ruber BoETTGER, Zool. Anz. 20 (1897) 164; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 255. Description of species.—(After the type description.) Head depressed, snout rounded and strongly projecting; nostrils lateral; rostral moderately broad, upper part somewhat more than one-third the width of head, its posterior part not reaching level of eyes, its underside clearly longer than broad; nasal almost entirely divided, the suture arising from second labial; preocular as broad as ocular, in contact below with only the very large third labial; eye small, very distinct; upper head shields, with the exception of the middle longitudinal row, con- siderably larger than body scales; 4 upper labials, of which the last 2 are especially well developed and of nearly the same size: diameter of body in total length, 36 to 37; tail somewhat broader than long, ending in a sharp spine; 26 scale rows about body. Color.—Uniform, bright red-brown above; below scarcely as bright as above. Total length, 225 millimeters. . Remarks.—I have been unable to find specimens of this species. Obviously it is very rare and, I believe, still known only from the type, which came from Samar. This species is said to be closely related to Typhlops kraalit from the Kei Islands near New Guinea, but differs in being less slender, and in having the tail shorter, the scales on the head larger, and the color different. TYPHLOPS CANLAONENSIS Taylor Typhlops canlaonensis TAYLOR, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 11 (1917) 354. Description of species —(From No. 241, E. H. Taylor collec- tion; collected at an elevation of about 750 meters on Canlaon Volcano, Negros, December 25, 1915, by E. H. Taylor.) Head depressed, a little wider than body; snout projecting mod- erately; rostral elliptic, distinctly wider behind than at tip of snout and failing to reach level of eyes by half the width of prefrontal, more than one-third the width of head; nostrils lateral, not visible from above; nasals large, not in contact be- hind rostral, not completely divided by nasal cleft, which arises from second labial and passes through nostril to a point about halfway from nostril to rostral; nasal in contact with first 3 labials; preocular present, narrowed to a point at its upper end, its greatest width, equal to that of ocular, occurs below level of eye; preocular narrowly in contact with supraocular above and 56 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS with only the third labial below practically the same length as ocular; ocular somewhat rectangular in outline, rapidly nar- rowed to a point above and below, in contact with third and fourth labials, bordered posteriorly by 2 somewhat enlarged body scales (3 on left side) ; prefrontal wider than deep, dis- tinctly larger than frontal, which is somewhat wider than long, and narrowly in contact with prefrontal; supraoculars larger than either of these scales and about equal in size to parietals, which are a little more elongate and more than half lying behind oculars; interparietal scale not as large as frontal; eye visible near anterior border of ocular, much below the point of contact with supraocular; eye rather large, pupil distinct and whitish; 30 scale rows about body; tail ending in a sharp spine. Color wm life-—Above shiny greenish black (appearing dark green in certain lights) ; snout dark brown; underside of snout, belly, and entire tail pinkish yellow. The dark and the yellow areas are well defined, the black covering 15 scale rows. Head with narrow lighter lines, more or less outlining the head scales. Measurements of the type of Typhlops canlaonensis Taylor. mm. Total length 122 * Tail 2.5 Width of head 4.2 Width of body 3.5 Width of tail 3 Remarks.—This species is related to Typhlops ruficauda Gray. It differs much in color, the rostral is wider and does not reach the level of the eye, and the tail is wider than long. In coloring it resembles T. jagorit Peters, from Luzon, but the nasals are not completely divided and do not touch behind the rostral; the second labial ig far from twice as large as the first. It is im- possible to tell whether the specimen at hand is adult or not. However, it is probable that it is a smaller form than the other two species mentioned above. Only one specimen was found, although the locality wags very thoroughly searched. It was found burrowing under a decayed log. TYPHLOPS MANILZ Taylor Typhlops manile TAyLor, Philip. Journ. Sci. 14 (1919) 106. Description of species.— (From the type, an unnumbered spec- imen in Santo Tomas Museum, labeled “Filipinas ;” locality and collector unknown; probably from Luzon.) Snout rounded in front, projecting about 2 millimeters; a distinct depression across head in region of eyes; rostral narrowed at a point on snout TYPHLOPS 57 between nostrils, distinctly longer than wide below; rostral little more than one-third the width of head; nasals not in contact behind rostral; rostral reaching level of eyes; prefrontal rather large, narrowly in contact with frontal; supraoculars large, their lower end not reaching eye; frontal slightly smaller than prefrontal, about the same shape; parietals rounding, a little broader than deep, smaller than supraocular; interparietal en- larged; nasal not completely divided; suture issues from second labial, then makes a backward deflection which widens the an- terior part of nasal; preocular narrowed at upper end, reaching above level of eye but scarcely reaching below level of nostril, abruptly widened below eye, its posterior suture with ocular not crossing eye; nasal much wider than either preocular or ocular; a small subocular scale below ocular in contact with second and third labials; preocular touches second labial behind this inter- calated scale; ocular widens abruptly on a level with eye, and extends higher than preocular; first labial elongate, second higher and shorter, of nearly the same area, third very large, three or four times as large as second, reaching to near the top level of nostril, larger and higher than fourth labial (third la- bial on one side is fused with subocular) ; 3 scales border ocular behind; eyes very small but distinct; nostril comparatively large ; lower jaw very narrow, in its middle scarcely two-fifths the width of head. Tail ends in a blunt spine; 12 scales under tail in a longitudinal line; scales in 28 rows about body. Color in life-—Reddish brown above, the anterior part rather more grayish brown; the posterior two-thirds of body darker brown; head distinctly marked with darker and lighter (usually) curved areas; snout yellowish; below light yellowish, each scale with a slightly darker area. Measurements of Typhlops manile Taylor. mm. Total length 280 Tail 5 Width of tail 5.2 Width of body 5 Width of head 5.5 Remarks.—This unique specimen was found in the collection of the Santo Tomas University, Manila. The container was labeled “Filipinas” with no indication as to the locality from which it came. This species as characterized by the presence of a subocular has no close affinity among other species of the genus in the Philippines. It belongs to the division of the genus of which Typhlops ater and T. inornatus are members, but differs 58 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS from them in the very much larger number of scale rows, as well as in other characters. TYPHLORS OLIVACEUS (Gray) Onychophis olivaceus GRay, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. (1845) 133. Onychocephalus olivaceus PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 684; Borerrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 105; CASTO DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 424. Typhlops olivaceus BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 50; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 255. Description of species —(From Boulenger.) ‘“Snout very prominent, with a narrow, sharp, suberescentic transverse edge ° and inferior nostrils. Rostral large, its upper part longer than broad and about three-fifths the width of the head, not extending to the level of the eyes, its lower part as broad as long; nasal nearly completely divided, the cleft proceeding from the first labial; preeocular present, nearly as broad as the nasal or the ocular, in contact with the second and third labials; eyes distinct; prefrontal considerably enlarged; four upper labials. Diameter of body 50 to 68 times in the total length; tail twice and a half as long as broad, ending in a spine; 20 or 22 scales round the body. Pale brown, lighter inferiorly. : “Total length 410 millim. “Philippines, Moluccas, North-west Australia.” Remarks.—Boulenger * records four specimens. One speci- men, the type, is from the Philippines. Peters + gives two local- ities on Samar, Loquilocun and Borongan. Here, he states, it is called tuna. The types were collected by H. Cuming. I have been unable to find this species, and there is no specimen in the Bureau of Science collection. Boulenger gives Typhlops (Ony- chocephalus) angusticeps Peters as a synonym of this species. An examination of Peters’s figures ~ leads me to regard this as anerror. The presence of a subocular, as well as of other char- acters, would seem to prohibit this association. ( TYPHLOPS RUGOSA Taylor Typhlops rugosa TAYLOR, Philip. Journ. Sci. 14 (1919) 109. Description of species.—(From the type, No. 97, E. H. Taylor collection; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, July 14, 1913, by E. H. Taylor.) Head rough, the anterior outline * Boulenger, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (18938) 51. + Peters, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 684. +t Mon. Berl. Ak. (1877) 417, pl. figs. 3, 3a, 3b, 3c. TYPHLOPS 59 broken by depressions between scales along sutures, with trans- verse cutting edge, somewhat hooked in lateral profile; rostral a little longer than wide above, not reaching level of eyes, more than one-third the width of head; part of rostral below as deep as wide, dimly granular; prefrontal a little wider and somewhat smaller than frontal, its posterior point reaching a little beyond level of eyes; frontal as broad as long, larger than interparietal; supraocular larger than frontal, wider than deep; parietals much larger than frontal, separated by an interparietal, which is smaller than frontal; parietals not twice as wide as long; nasal with a swollen prominence about and above nostril, which gives the anterior head outline an irregular appearance; nostrils latero- inferior, not visible from above; nasal cleft issues from first labial and barely passes beyond nostril, not wholly dividing the scale; preocular not as wide as and much shorter than nasal, in contact with 2 labials; eyes dim, barely outlined; 2 postoculars, inferior largest, in contact with fourth labial; 4 upper labials, fourth largest, first and second smallest, subequal in size; scales in 26 rows; tail ending in a sharp spine; 479 scales in a longi- tudinal row from head to tail; body width in total length, 50; tail width in tail length, 3.5; tail length in body length, about 17. Color im life——Above brownish to golden yellow, slightly lighter beneath. There is very little distinction between the two colors, as they merge gradually on the sides. Each scale with a somewhat darker area. Measurements of Typhlops rugosa Taylor. mm. Total length » 895 Tail 23 Width of head 135 Width of body 8 Width of tail 6.5 Remarks.—Two other specimens besides the type were taken, one adult, and one young. These two were forwarded to Dr. Lawrence E. Griffin, at the University of Pittsburg. They have not been at hand for comparison. All were taken in masses of fern roots growing in high forest trees. Typhlops rugosa has no close affinity among the Philippine species, unless it be with T. mindanensis Taylor. From the latter it differs in the size of the frontal, which is larger than the prefrontal in T. min- danensts. The former has 2, the latter 3, labials touching the nasal; in the former the head is very rough, in the latter, com- paratively smooth. Many other differences are obvious on a 60 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS comparison of the two descriptions. The roughness of the head in T. rugosa is not unlike that in T. crossii and T. regine but here the resemblance between them ceases. TYPHLOPS DENDROPHIS sp. nov. Type.—No. 93, E. H. Taylor collection; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, August 15, 1918, by E. H. Taylor. Description of type-——Head flattened above, elliptic in out- line, broader than neck; snout in lateral profile rather wedge- shaped, with a narrow, sharp, subcrescentic, transverse edge, with nostrils inferior; rostral about as broad below ag above, a little more than one-third width of head, reaching level of eyes; prefrontal angular, forming a suture with rostral about one-third its width, a little larger than frontal but of the same shape, much wider than deep; frontal wider than deep, forming equal sutures with prefrontal and interparietal; latter a little wider than frontal and followed by 2 or 3 enlarged scales (the latter char- acter is not constant); supraocular wider than deep, its lower point failing to reach eye; parietals much elongate, twice as long as wide, reaching to near level of eye; nostril between 2 nasals, anterior very small and narrow, the suture dividing them arising from first labial; edge of rostral approaches close to nostril; preocular present, not as wide or as deep as ocular, not touching eye, in contact with 2 labials below; 3 scales behind ocular; latter large, with a slight rounded prominence above eye; first labial as large as or larger than second, fourth larger than third; tail ending in a sharp spine; 26 rows of scales about body, 497 in a longitudinal row from back of head to end of tail, 29 scales under tail from anus to tip. Body width in body length, 49.7; tail width in tail length, 3.1. Color in life——Above olive to brownish yellow, grading in- sensibly into the lighter color on belly. Each scale with a lighter and darker part; snout somewhat lighter. Measurements of Typhlops dendrophis sp. nov, : mm. Total length 398 Tail 21. Width of body 8 Width of tail : 6.75 Variation.—There are three specimens of this species in my collection, and one mutilated specimen in the Bureau of Science collection, all collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao. They agree fairly well in measurements and proportions. The body TYPHLOPS 61 width in the body length varies from 46 to 49; tail width in tail length, 3.1. All the specimens save the type have 28 scale rows around the body. The relation of the nasal cleft and the preocular to the labials is identical in all the specimens; ones are also identical in color. TABLE 7.—Measurements and scale counts of Typhlops dendrophis sp. nov. | [ae fs (ee lee |e. i. 4 al = = 8a] 7m No. cl is | =e | 23 Poe a be Collection. Sipe | oS ee ae | RS elas H/|/ a) aie |F |e a a mim. mm. | mm. | mm. | 93 | 3898 21 | 26 | 8 6.75 49.7 8.11 | 29] E. H. Taylor. 94] 334 IT 28 | 7.25 | 5.50 46.0 3.09 28 Do. 95 | 3892 20 28/8 6. 50 49 3.07 28 Do. M745)\ ---5~2 ae 28 | 6 BG) Son an oal weet 29 | Bureau of Science. Remarks.—This species is related to Typhlops olivaceus (Gray), but differs in having the rostral reach the level of the eye, and the nasal completely divided. The diameter of the body is forty-six to forty-nine times in its total length. The tail is more than three times as long as wide, with 4 to 6 more rows of scales around the body than in T. olivaceus. From T. cumingti it differs in having the preocular in contact with 2 labials instead of 1, the tail much shorter, the rostral reach- ing the level of the eyes, and in having more rows of scales about the body. It is a larger, less-slender species than T. cumingit. All four specimens were taken from the root masses of the aérial fern Aspleniwm nidus, obtained when the high forest trees were felled. The snakes burrow in the tough root masses and feed on the larve of ants and centipedes which are abun- dant in the fern roots. TYPHLOPS SULUENSIS Taylor Typhlops suluensis TAYLOR, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 13 (1918) 257. Description of species —(From the type, No. 2001, Bureau of Science collection; collected on Bubuan Island, Tapian group, Sulu Archipelago, October 2, 1917, by E. H. Taylor.) Snout rather pointed, with a moderately sharp edge; rostral nearly half the width of head, rather truncate behind, forming a broad, straight suture with prefrontal; latter very large, broadly trian- gular in shape, its longest sutures with preoculars; frontal very small, bordered by 6 scales, about one-fifth the size of prefrontal; interparietal as wide as prefrontal, but somewhat smaller ; supra- 62 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS oculars slender, about two and a half times as long as broad; parietals much larger than supraoculars, little more than twice as long as wide; nasals separated, their upper ends barely ex- tending beyond the posterior level of rostral, which reaches almost to the anterior level of eyes; nasal completely divided by nasal cleft, which arises from first labial; preocular in contact with 2 labials, not as wide as ocular, its upper end scarcely reaching higher than the upper level of eye; eye distinct, with a minute pupil visible, not crossed by suture of ocular with pre- ocular; 2 body scales border ocular behind; 4 lower labials, second scarcely larger than first; scales in 22 rows around middle of body, 20 on neck, 22 in front of anus, tail ending in a sharp Fic. 38. Tuphlops suluensis Taylor; from the type; a, head, lateral view: b, head, dorsal view se, chime 3< 3: spine; body width in body length, 46; tail width in tail length, 2.5; tail length in body length, 26. Color in ife——Above dark drab-gray, covering nine whole and two half rows of scales, each scale with a slightly curved lighter area, which forms a fine-meshed network over body; balance of body very light gray, the ventral median row of scales differen- tiated by being much lighter in color, with the outer edges and the edges of adjacent scale rows slightly darker: occasionally an entire scale is white in the median ventral row; tip of tail and anal region whitish; underside of head rather light dirty white; head with lighter curved lines, arranged regularly but not follow- ing the outlines of the head scales. TYPHLOPS 63 Measurements of Typhlops suluensis Taylor. mm. Total length 340 Tail 13 Width of tail 5.0. Width of body 7.4 Width of head 5.5 Remarks.—The type was found in a rotten log only about 4 meters from high-tide mark on the beach. Much effort was made to obtain other specimens on Bubuan Island, but none was found. This species seems to be most closely related to Typhlops multilineatus and T. olivaceus. From T. muiltilineatus it differs in having the rostral shorter, the nasal completely di- vided, the diameter of the body contained in the total length forty times (in T. multilineatus fifty to sixty times), and 22 instead of 20 scale rows around the middle of the body. The prefrontal is larger, the frontal smaller, and the markings are not arranged in longitudinal lines. From 7. olivaceus it differs in having a complete division of the nasal, the preocular much narrower than the ocular, and the rostral barely half the width of the head. The color is also different from T. olivaceus. TYPHLOPS LONGICAUDA Taylor PLATE 1 Typhlops longicauda TAytLor, Philip. Journ. Sci. 14 (1919) 108. Description of species.— (From the type, No. R 99, E. H. Taylor collection; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, July 15, 1913, by E. H. Taylor.) Head rather broader than neck, rather rounding in outline; snout with a sharp horizontal cutting edge, moderately projecting, not or but scarcely hooked in profile; rostral not as wide below as above, somewhat narrowed between nostrils, failing to reach level of eye by more than half the depth of prefrontal; latter wider than deep, larger than frontal, the suture formed with it larger than that with rostral which is only about one-fifth its width; frontal about as wide as deep, equal to parietals; parietals each divided into 2 scales, which are about the size of the body scales and scarcely differentiated from them, the second one, lying somewhat behind ocular, largest; interparietal somewhat larger than frontal; supraocular diag- onal, the lower point reaching anterior level of eye but failing to reach horizontal level by its distance from nasal; 2 nasals, the anterior very small; the suture dividing them arises from 64 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS first interlabial suture; preocular narrower and much shorter than ocular, in contact with 2 labials below; ocular large, with a slight, rounded prominence over eye; eye and pupil distinct; 4 postoculars between parietal and fourth labial; 4 labials, first and second smallest, subequal in size, third more than twice as large as second and about half the size of fourth; scales in 26 rows; about 430 scales in a longitudinal line to above vent; 40 scales in a row on underside of tail; body width in body length, 56.6; tail width in tail length, 7.2. Color in life—Above light yellowish brown, gradually becom- ing lighter below; head lighter with curving lighter marks; laterally there is a distinct, more or less rectangular, lighter spot, including eye and reaching mouth. Each ventral scale has a regular darker brown area. Measurements of Typhlops longicauda Taylor. mm. Total length 340 Tail 34.5 Width of head 5.5 Width of body 6 Width of tail 4.75 Variation.—Ten other specimens of this species are in my collection; all differ from the type in having a single parietal. This character in the type may be anomalous. The origin of the nasal suture is not fixed, usually arising near the first inter- labial suture, sometimes from first labial, sometimes from sec- ond. The body width in the body length varies from 45 to 68, the average being about 52; the tail is from six to seven times longer than broad, the average being about 6.2. They vary in shade from yellowish to golden brown above, somewhat lighter below. Remarks.—This species has a very marked, apparently normal enlargement of the pelvic bones, and the tail is comparatively Jonger than in any other of the extremely numerous species of this genus. The specimens were obtained for the most part from root masses of the large aérial fern Aspleniwm nidus. They were common at Bunawan, Agusan. Two were taken from the trunks of small trees which were tunneled by large black ants. The species feeds on the larve of ants and centipedes. It is known only from the type locality. It appears to be related to Typhlops cumingti Gray but differs from it in having a longer tail, in the larger number of scale rows, and in having the pre- ocular in contact with 2 labials instead of 1. TYPHLOPS 65 TABLE 8.—Measurements and scale counts of. Typhlops longicauda Taylor. | | | pail No. Length. | Tail. ae aoe ae | ae | | Jength. | iength. | mm, mm. | mm, mm, 348 31 | 6 4.9 58 | 6.1 @ | 6 | 5.5 Homes N Weng | 180 16 4 2.7 45 | 6 | 314 | 27.5 6 | 4.5 52 | 6.1 | i aml BIS ee teeke Bre Atte oaceae \ 6.2 286 | 23 5 37 | or | 62 210; 18 | 4 8.2 2: | se 235 22. |} 5 3.6 a7 6.1 285 26 6 4.2 48 | 6.2 316 30.5 6 5 53 Cid 6.1 340 34.5 6 4.15 66.6 | q32) | == aa || | : | Preocu- | No. ee Be) eatin labial. | j— Cra ee RS TOGe cas Sia Ae 5.2 ey oe nee | Yes _._. 2d labial_____ 26 | Yes _...| E. H. Taylor. | | 26 | Yes __.. Do. 26 | Yes ___. Do. 26 | Yes __.. Do. 26 ese CA ales Do. 26 | Yes _... Do | 26 | Yes ___- Do. | 26 | Yes ____ Do t 26 | Yes _ » Mutilated. © Type. NATRIX CREBRIPUNCTATA (Wiegmann) Tropidonotus crebripunctatus WIEGMANN, Nova Acta Ac. Leop.-Carol. : 17+ (1835) 250; BoULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 262. Natrix crebripunctata GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 257. Description of species ——(From Boulenger.) ‘Head short, very distinct from neck. Eye very large. Rostral broader than deep, just visible from above; internasals as long as broad, as long as the prefrontals; frontal once and three fifths as long as broad, longer than its ‘distance from the end of the snout, as long as the parietals; loreal as long as deep; two pre- and three postoculars; temporals 2 + 3; eight to ten upper labials; (the specimen in the collection has eight on one side, ten on the other), fourth and fifth, fifth or sixth, or sixth and seventh entering the eye; four lower labials in contact with the anterior 9? SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS chin-shields, which are shorter than the posterior. Scales in 19 rows, all strongly keeled. Ventrals 148-166; anal divided ; sub- caudals 96-101. Color.— ‘Olive above, vertebral line lighter and crossed by narrow black bars; upper lip yellowish, the shields black-edged above; belly whitish, with a black dot at the outer end of each shield; posterior ventrals brown on the sides; subcaudals en- tirely brown.” Measurements of Natrix crebripunctata (Wiegmann). mm. Total length 680 Tail 230 Remarks.—I have been unable to find this species, and there are no specimens in the collections which I have studied. There is a single specimen in the British Museum collection from the Philippines collected by Cuming. Boettger has placed this spe- cies as a synonym of Natria spilogaster (Boie).* NATRIX LINEATA (Peters) PLATE 4, FIGS. 6 AND 7; PLATE 5 Tropidonotus lineatus PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 686; BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1898) 262; BorrTcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 109. Natrix lineata GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 257. Description of species—(From No. R 34, E. H. Taylor col- lection; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, March 15, 1913, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult male.) Rostral much wider than high, not visible from above; internasals a little longer than wide, bent downward in front to meet rostral, their sutures with surrounding scales subequal; prefrontal a little broader than long, nearly three times the size of internasals, forming its shortest suture with supraocular, its longest suture with its fellow; frontal one-fifth longer than wide, longer than its distance from end of snout, nearly equal in length to width of parietal; parietals large, in contact with 2 postoculars, longer than frontal, but shorter than their distance from end of snout; nasal divided, posterior portion highest; ee squarish, little more Boa half as high as posterior nasal; 2 pre- iat ees eueneet that ee ec eaaneniea Wiegmann is andeea N. spilogaster. I believe further that Boulenger’s species of this name is a distinct species. NATRIX 93 oculars (1 on left side), both in contact with loreal; supra- ocular as long as frontal, about half as wide; 3 postoculars; temporals 1 + 2; upper labials 8 (9 on right side), third, fourth, and fifth (fourth, fifth, and sixth on left side) entering eye; seventh, sixth, and fifth largest in the order named; 9 lower labials, 4 in contact with first pair of chin shields (5 in all the other specimens); 2 pairs of chin shields, second longest and narrowest; scales in 19 rows, keeled strongly, except outer row, which is less strongly keeled than the others; ventrals, rounded, 138; anal double; subcaudals, 71; eye moderate, its diameter not equal to its distance from nostril; head narrowed in front, and noticeably broadened in temporal region. Color in lufe-—Above bluish black, head dark brown with a milk-white stripe from rostral across upper part of labials, continuing backward and downward to where it reaches eighth ventral scale; lower part of upper labials dark; lower labials spotted with dark; chin shields immaculate creamy yellow; bellv same color, with a zigzag subcaudal line to end of tail. Measurements of Natrix lineata (Peters). mm. Total length 625 Tail 159 Variation.—Table 13 shows the scale counts on a series of spec- imens collected in the same locality as the type. The variation in the ventral count is from 132 to 142; in the subcaudal count, 64 to 71. The most variable elements are the upper labials and the preoculars; there is a tendency for the third labial to split and in consequence the number of labials entering the orbit varies; 8 is the predominant number of upper labials; 2 is the predominant number of the preoculars. Markings on the back are evident in the younger specimens. In No. 32 (E. H. Taylor collection) the head is a distinct brown with a broad semicircular dark area on the occipital region followed by a milk-white collar which joins the two labial lines; behind this is a transverse dark olive band, then another lighter olive band, broader than the former, and still another narrow black band, and a second light olive band, after which the dark color breaks up into a network, the limits of the meshes being marked with a larger dark spot. The ground color is light olive brown; this specimen shows a powdering of brown on each ventral, with the subcaudal region very dark. 94 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS TABLE 13.—Measurements and scale counts of Natrix lineata (Peters). | bo pales a | i < | rie ee No. Locality. | Collector. iB BI a | a | | 4 5 = = a | v o | ‘a a 3 Be \ oe) er he en | 1TAS} eRe ose case see tee OU Wel geen Quemcent panei y es fee ede ered eee | a0 14266 ites | | | ls | iain na | | at | eet ie D . (os . | [e) aie a |) ay) alge eo Nope) 4 3 5 el | na | SP BO i oe Collection. | | 2 | 8 | 8 | 8s] oe] BL | & lage o | f of ee ee ee | ee | a eee < jm ua Pp A 4 BH i un | 29 | 2 | 21} 3 8) t0!'3,4,.5'i+2] 6! 19] BH Taylor. | | 14,6 so) 2 2 3 | Bi dO \i+e 5 19 Do. | Pr, | a| 2| 2) 3 a | 10/34,5/14+2!) 5] 19 Do. zz} 2! 2| 3| 8] wja46l/ite! 5/ 19 Do. | | | } 33} 2) 11 3) 89 | 10 iF a Vita | 6) 19 Do | s¢| 2] 1) 3] 98] 9 {ag 3 ite) 4) 19 Do | 35 2 Dh a) 38 eects. 5 619 Do. | 36] 2] 12) 8 9 10 4,5,6 142 5| 19 Do. | 1714 | 2 2 3 | 89) 10) 46 | 142 5) 19 Do. im5| 2| 2| 3| 8) 920/3,4,5|1+2 4| 19 Do. lame} 2| 2] 3| 9! 10 45,6, 142 5}; 19 Do. | 1717 | 2; 2) 8) 9| 9/456) 142 5| 19 Do. | im3| 2} 2] 3 8| 9. 3,4,5|142 5 19 Do. | | (b) | 2 | 2 | 3 Ch eee eras \i+e eee 19 Berlin Museum. i | | » 4, | | " Mutilated. " Type. Remarks.—This species, according to Boulenger,* is closely allied to Natria crebripunctata (Wiegmann). There is however, but a single anterior temporal in N. lineata, which character is constant in the series of thirteen specimens. There is a very much lower average of ventrals and subcaudals. The markings, too, would seem to distinguish it. There are no vertebral lines * Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1898) 262. NATRIX 95 apparent on the body, even in the young. The widening of the head in the temporal region is very characteristic, especially in older specimens. A female contained five undeveloped eggs. All the specimens were found in damp situations, usually under leaves and trash along the edge of a small swamp. It is com- mon at Bunawan. NATRIX DENDROPHIOPS Giinther This species appears to have two distinct forms in the Phil- ippines, the typical form from Mindanao, and the second, from Negros. They are distinguished as follows: Key to the subspecies of Natrix dendrophiops Giinther. a. Scales*in 17 TowS...2. esc tesa cs. N. d. dendrophiops (Giinther) (p. 95). a7s Scales-in, 19 VOWS: <3) ee eee N. d. negrosensis Taylor (p. 97). NATRIX DENDROPHIOPS DENDROPHIOPS (Giinther) Tropidonotus dendrophiops GUNTHER, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. V 11 (1883) 136, fig.; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 264; BorETTcER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 109. ?Tropidonotus hypomelas MULLER, Verh. Nat. Ges. Basel. 1885) 286; III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel Mus. (18838) 15. Natrix dendrophiops GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 257. Description of species—(From No. 60, E. H. Taylor col- lection; collected at Bunawan; Agusan, Mindanao, September 15, 1913, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult male.) Rostral large, twice as wide as high, forming its longest suture with nasal, only slightly visible from above; internasals longer than broad, the suture between them equal to prefrontal suture; prefrontals very wide, bending down on sides at a rather sharp angle; frontal longer than its distance from end of snout, not as long as parietals or supraoculars, and not twice as wide as supra- oculars, the anterior edge forming nearly a straight line; parie- tals moderate, longer than broad, in contact with upper post- ocular and 1 or 2 temporals; scales bordering parietals behind numerous, small; nostrils pierced between 2 nasals, the posterior larger and higher; prefrontals appear to enter nostrils above; loreal not as high as nasals, in contact with both preoculars, its upper edge curving; 2 preoculars, lower in contact with 2 labials, upper separated from frontal; 3 postoculars, upper largest; temporals : + 3; 9 upper labials, 8 on left side where seventh and eighth are fused into a single scale; fourth, fifth, and sixth enter eye; labials arranged in the following order of size: sev- enth, ninth, eighth, sixth, fourth, fifth, third, second, first; 10 lower labials, 5 touching chin shields; mental broadly triangular; 96 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS second pair of chin shields longer and narrower than first pair, separated throughout their length; scales in 17 rows, all strongly keeled, median rows very small, outer large; ventrals, 154, rounded; anal double; subcaudals divided, 98; eye very large, its diameter nearly equal to its distance from end of snout; body rather slender; tail very slender. Color in life-—Olivaceous above, tinged more or less with pinkish, with three rows of blackish irregular spots, one me- dian dorsal, the other two lateral; these are separated by two rows of pinkish yellow, black-edged spots, continuing full length of body; the black and yellow spots form an irregular transverse row; neck is banded with dark blackish and lighter olivaceous bands; head above brownish gray, lighter on snout, sides of snout brownish yellow; upper labials yellowish with a few spots anteriorly; lower rim of orbit dark; a short black line behind eye; lower labials cream yellow, with spots on edge of sixth; the lateral! dark spots extend to ventrals; there are one or two rows of black, elongate spots on ventrals, but these do not form continuous lines; the anterior part of each ventral with numerous small flecks of black; under the last half of belly there is a more or less continuous median dark line to anus; subcaudally almost black; scales narrowly edged with lighter. Measurements of Natrix dendrophiops dendrophiops (Gitinther). mm. Total length 7196 Tail 240 Width of head 18 Length of head 24 Variation.—The ventrals and subcaudals vary between 154 and 157 and 94 and 100, respectively; the postoculars, between 2 and 3, the larger percentage having 3. No. 58 (E. H. Taylor collection) has a single prefrontal on one side only. In the young specimens the markings are more clearly defined. There are a broad blackish bar on the neck and one or two other broad bands behind this. The markings resolve themselves into a large series of narrow, transverse, blackish bands, interrupted laterally by white dots. The type measures 900 millimeters in length and is much larger than any specimen that I have examined. Remarks.—This snake feeds on frogs and is usually found not far from water. Five of the six specimens I collected were taken under logs. Known only from Zamboanga, southwestern Mindanao, and Bunawan in the upper Agusan Valley. NATRIX 97 TABLE 14.—Measurements and scale counts of Natrix dendrophiops dendrophiops (Giinther). | 4,5,6) 17 | E. H. Taylor 2 No. Locality. 3 & > mm. | 56 (a) | 165 57 90 | 154 58 | (s) | 156 59 ae 150 | 155 HE GOg eed s Pens stee ct ns rape Rey ts VAY CEE Se WE a | 240 | 154 | AQIS As edowee eet sie (nie hs ao ees nd Soe | (8) eens | ca Zamboanga------.------------------- --- | 270 | 157 | —= a poerre eee - a = =~ Shee ; | 4 = 3 | Sa a é pees ra eee tees 2 ; | nee g é g | 8 | 3 | & cy | = Collection. Ss, e) el 2/ 8 \ble |4 n < a | & PDP | 4 | | a | | | +5, Do. 58 (a) | 2} 12) 2/108! 30! 46,6, 17 Do 59) (a) 2! | 3/ 9 10| 45.6 it! Do bo 98 = 2} 2B) 9B) 10) 45,6! IT! Do. M13...) 2) 2 8) 9 | 10 | 4,5,6| 17 Bureau of Science. ea 100! 2) 12) gl Uren 45,6, 17 British Museum. | Sti keane v ree Sys eee eee | * Mutilated. » Described. « Type. NATRIX DENDROPHIOPS NEGROSENSIS Taylor Natrix dendrophiops negrosensis TAYLOR, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 356. Description of speciés.— (From the type, No. 128, E. H. Taylor collection ; collected on Canlaon Volcano, Occidental Negros, by E. H. Taylor.) Rostral fairly large, nearly twice as wide as high. upper edge curved and distinctly visible from above, its sutures with nasals little longer than those with internasals; the latter longer than broad, the suture between them equal to their su- tures with prefrontals, which are less than the suture with na- sals; prefrontals much broader than long, narrowed on sides, forming coequal sutures with internasal and frontal, their short- est suture with supraocular ; frontal longer than broad, wider, but not as long as supraoculars, somewhat shield-shaped, longer than its distance from end of sneut, shorter than parietals; the latter longer than broad, bordered laterally by 2 elongate temporals, in contact with only 1 postocular ; nostril between 2 nasals, which 161465——7 98 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS differ greatly in shape but are of nearly equal size; loreal nearly square, touching second and third labials; 1 elongate preocular, twice as high as wide, and wider at top than at bottom, semi- divided; 3 small postoculars (4 on right side) ; temporals 2 + 3; fourth, fifth, and sixth labials entering eye; mental broadly triangular; 10 lower labials, sixth and seventh largest; first 5 in contact with first chin shield, which is noticeably shorter than second; 19 rows of scales, the outer largest, faintly keeled, all the others strongly keeled; scales with 2 apical pits easily dis- cernible; anal divided; ventrals, 164; subcaudals, 97; eye very large. A i \\ | | areas Fic. 8. Natrix dendrophiops negrosensis Taylor; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; ec, head, ventral view. Color in life—Reddish brown to olive, with a median series of dark, more or less distinct spots or bars at intervals of 0.5 centimeter; on sides and forming continuations of the dark dor- sal bars is a series of dark spots. Below pinkish white with a series of small, more or less regular black spots on each ven- tral and subcaudal; bars on neck very much wider than else- where; top of head brownish olive; labials brownish white with dark areas between first three; a distinet black line runs from behind eye to posterior part of eighth supralabial, where it turns and continues downward to first ventrals; scales on head mi- nutely edged with black. OXYRHABDIUM 99 Measurements of the type of Natrix dendrophiops negrosensis Taylor. mm. Length 730 Snout to vent 526 Vent to tip of tail 204 Width of head 11 Length of head 20 Diameter of eye ; 5 Variation.—The postoculars show a tendency to increase to four; one specimen has the third, fourth, and fifth labials en- tering the eye, and a second specimen shows four labials en- tering on the right side. Remarks.—The following characteristics seem to warrant the separation of this subspecies from typical: Natrix dendrophiops. There is a tendency to an increase in the number of postoculars from 3 to 4; there is only a single preocular (specimens of N. dendrophiops from northern Mindanao have 2 distinct preocu- lars) ; there is an average of 10 more ventrals; there are con- stantly 19 instead of 17 rows of scales; the eye is somewhat smaller; and the loreal is lower. Genus OXYRHABDIUM Boulenger Stenognathus (non Chaud.) DUMERIL and BiBRon, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 508; JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 28. Rhabdosoma, part., GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus. (1858) 10. Geophis, part., BOETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106; Casto DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 425. Oxyrhabdium BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 302; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 258. Pe) “Maxillary teeth 30 to 35, small, equal; mandibular teeth equal. Head not distinct from neck; eye small, with vertically subelliptic pupil; nostril pierced between two small nasals; a pair of small internasals; no preeocular; loreal and prefrontal entering the eye. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15 rows, without apical pits; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate, subcau- dals in two rows. Hypapophyses developed throughout the ver- tebral column.” (Bowulenger.) Key to the species of Oxyrhabdium Boulenger. a‘. Eight upper labials, fifth and sixth entering eye; reddish brown above, yellowish below. Young with yellow collar. 0. modestum (Duméril and Bibron) (p. 100). a*, Seven upper labials, fourth and fifth entering eye; olive green to darker. Young black with dim yellowish rings on body........2...00000.002::0::::000000- es 0. leporinum (Giinther) (p. 108). 100 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS The genus is confined to the Philippines. The record of Dumé- ril and Bibron for Java is doubtless an error.* The first species appears to be confined to the southern part of Luzon, Samar, and Mindanao; the second, to northern and central Luzon. OXYRHABDIUM MODESTUM (Duméril and Bibron) Stenognathus modestus DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 504; Prerers, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 684; JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 28; Icon. Gén. (1865) 13, pl. 1, fig. 3. ; Rhabdosoma leporinum, part., GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus. (1858) 12; F. MU ier, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel Mus. (1883) 12. Stenognathus modestus, part., GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1873) 169. Rhabdosoma modestum, part., GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 77. Geophis schadenbergi FISCHER, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg 2 (1885) 93, pl. 8, fig. 4; Borrrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106. Geophis modestus, part., BOETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106. Oxyrhabdium modestum BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 302; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 258. Description of species.— (From No. 3, E. H. Taylor collection ; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, August 12, 1913, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult female.) Rostral small, higher than Fic. 9. Oxyrhabdiwn modestum (Duméril and Bibron) ; drawing of a Mindanao specimen ; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; c, head, ventral view; X 2. wide, scarcely visible from above; internasals small, the suture between them less than one-third of that between prefrontals; latter very large, equaling or nearly equaling frontal, four or five times the size of internasals, broadly entering eye; frontal nearly twice as long as wide, not twice the width of supra- * Gtinther, Proc. Zool. Soe. London (1873) 169. OXYRHABDIUM 101 oculars; parietals longer than frontal, and twice as long as wide; nostril large, pierced between 2 nasals; loreal three times as long as wide, narrowly entering eye, in contact with 3 labials; no preocular, 2 postoculars; temporals 1+.2-+ 3; 8 upper labials, fifth and sixth entering eye; labials in the following order of ‘size: eighth, sixth, seventh, fifth, fourth, third, second, first; mental narrow, subcrescentic; 6 lower labials, fourth largest, the first 4 in contact with anterior chin shields, which are very broad and closely juxtaposed and followed by 2 small pairs of imbricate scales; mental groove very indistinct; eye small, the diameter less than half the distance from nostril, the pupil appearing nearly round; head somewhat flattened, more or less distinct from neck; snout acuminate; ventrals, 177; anal single; subcaudals, 56; scales in 15 smooth rows, outer largest, all without apical pits; tail cylindrical. Color in life-—Above dark iridescent lavender-brown, be- coming lighter on sides; belly immaculate creamy yellow; top of head darker, bluish brown to lavender; labials cream color to yellow; under part of tail a muddy cream, with an indistinct zigzag line between subeaudals; edges of body scales darker, giving the appearance of an indistinct network over body. Measurements of Oxyrhabdium modestum (Duméril and Bibron). ¥ mm. Total length 579 Snout to vent 480 Tail 99 Variation.—It will be seen from Table 15 that males have a smaller number of ventrals and a larger number of subcaudals than females; No. 1 of those listed, although having the average number of ventrals and subcaudals, has only 7 upper labials, with the fourth and fifth entering the eye; in this it agrees ‘with Oxyrhabdium leporinum. It has a single postocular, but in all other respects agrees with the other specimens, and in no way resembles O. leporinum in color or markings. There is a tendency toward the fusion of the postoculars, and in five spec- imeng they are fused on one or both sides. The young have a yellow collar but no other distinctive markings. I have exam- ined one specimen (No. R 575) from Camp Gandara, Samar, which has the following scale formula: Scale rows, 15; ventrals, 164; anal single; subcaudals, 49; length, 410 millimeters. No. 915 has the anal divided, but otherwise agrees with normal specimens. A single unnumbered specimen in the Santo Tomas Museum, an adult female containing eggs, is the largest one 102 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS that was examined, and shows certain variation. Its measure- ments are: Total length, 602 millimeters; tail, 102. The ventrals number 170, the subcaudals, 54. The loreal fails slightly to enter the eye and is in contact with 4 labials; the internasals are greatly reduced. No locality is given. TABLE 15.—Measurements and scale counts of Oxyrhabdium modestum (Duméril and Bibron). 7 ! aera i No | Locality: Collector. | Sex. Loire: Tail. | jean = | — | | mm. mm g 495} 83 | | 2 | 465} 33 | | Q 579 99 Q@ | 473} 86 Q@ | 847] 60 2 472 10 gc | 430} 88 o 588 | 118 9 477] 84 | 2 445 81 So | 185] 40 g | 479 84 o 320-60 c 360,71 | 9 | 484] 86 | g 445 | 84 g 383) 83 | Revs | Camp Gandara, Samar 2° 410 67 | R916 | Agusan, Mindanao_________________ g 480 85 ae Sub it : Labial | ub- abials wo. | Nar] ste | Jak [Bast | Some [Tan Cotection. | ee Ee eee el i cee eee See ee ae exe = 1 | 176| 57 | 7) 2{ 16] -4,5| EH. Taylor. 2) 12} 55 | 8} 21/ 16 Ret De gi) ir 56 | 8 2 15) 6,6 Do. 4) 166 56 | 8 1-2 15 5,6 Do. 5 176 58 8 | 2 15 5,6 Do. 6) 179; 53 7-8) 9 2-1 15 | 4,5;5,6| Do 7 169 | 60 8 | 2 15 | 5,6 Do 8 171) 66 8 2 15 5,6 Do 9 178) 56 | 8 | 1} 45 5.6} Do | 10, 175| 67 go 2) 15 5.6! Do 7} 63 | 8 | 2 15 5,6 Do 2! 176 67 | 8 | 2 15 5,6! Do 13 162 | 60 | 8 | 2 | 15 5,6 Do | 14/168] ~— 63 | 8 | 2| 15 5,6| Do | 45 | 74] 63 8) 2) ob Be) Be 16} 176 | 60 | 8 2 15 5.6} Do 7) 168 62 | 8 2 15 5,6 Do. R575 | 164 49 8 2 15 | 5,6 | Bureau of Science. R915 | 173 8 2} 16 5, 6 Do. | i OXYRHABDIUM 103 Remarks.—This species has been found only in the Philippine Islands; the known localities * are Samar, Mindanao, and Di- nagat. It was especially common at Bunawan; more than fifty specimens were captured during my collecting there. A few were found burrowed in the roots of large tree ferns (Asplenium nidus) but only those in fallen trees. Usually specimens were found in the forest, under grass and leaves on the ground. These snakes are very gentle; although I have handled many living specimens, none has ever attempted to bite. They readily take food in captivity. The Manobos who are familiar with this snake appear to have no specific name for it. They do not re- gard it as poisonous. OXYRHABDIUM LEPORINUM (Ginther) Rhabdosoma leporinum, part., GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus. (1858) 12. ?Stenognathus brevirostris PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1872) 586. Stenognathus modestus, part., GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1873) 169. Rhabdosoma modestum, part., GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 77. ?Geophis brevirostris BOoETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106, CASTO DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 425. Oxyrhabdium leporinum BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 308; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 258. Description of species.—(From No. 111, E. H. Taylor col- lection; collected at Baguio, Benguet, Luzon, June 1, 1915, on the slopes of Mount Santo Tomas at an elevation of about 2,000 meters, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult female.) Head obtusely pointed, with a very small ros- tral, little higher than wide, barely visible from above; inter- nasals small, the suture between them one-third to one-fourth that of prefrontals; latter large, rather narrow, five to six times the size of internasals, and near- ly equal to frontal, broadly enter- : ; _ ing eye and forming its longest aa el oe es Sosa: suture with loreal, which is a view; b, head, lateral view. little longer than that formed between the 2 prefrontals; frontal but little longer than wide, “o * Giinther lists Luzon as a known locality, but since he confused the two species it is not improbable that he referred to O. leporinum. 104 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS nearly three times as wide as supraoculars; parietals large, not twice as long as frontal; nostril between 2 nasals, the posterior largest; loreal about five times as long as wide, narrowly en- tering eye; supraocular narrow, elongate; 2 small postoculars, upper largest; temporals 1+ 2; 7 labials, fourth and fifth entering eye; seventh, fourth, fifth, sixth, third, second, first, is the order of size of the labials; mental very small, subcres- centic; chin shields very large, closely juxtaposed with a very indistinct mental groove; chin shields followed by 3 pairs of imbricate scales; eye dark blue, with a yellow vertical pupil; head distinct from neck; ventrals, 165; anal undivided; sub- caudals, 41; scale rows, 15, all smooth. Color in life—A bright uniform yellow-olive, iridescent above; head same color but a little darker; labials vellowish, spotted with brown; below yellow-cream, edges of ventrals tinged with grayish; dark subcaudally. In alcohol the color changes to a dull brownish black. Measurements of Oxyrhabdium leporinum (Ginther). mm Total length 685 Snout to vent 592 Tail 93 Head width 12 Head length 25 Variation.—There are one adult and three young specimens in my collection from Benguet. There is one adult specimen in the Bureau of Science collection. There is but little variation evident in the species, save in the ventral and subcaudal counts, the limits in the former being 164 and 180, and in the latter, 41 and 51. The young are a slaty blue-black, with a whitish nuchal collar and a series of indistinct bands of white 1 or 2 scales wide crossing the body in a zigzag manner. Remarks.—This species seems to be confined to the highlands of Luzon; it is a rare snake. Two specimens were dug up along an irrigation ditch, and a third had burrowed under a rock at an elevation of 2,000 meters on Mount Santo Tomas. The speci- men here described was found crawling in an open forest path. This species is of a very gentle disposition. The type was collected by H. Cuming; the exact type locality is no longer known. A second specimen in the British Museum is from Luzon, collected by A. B. Meyer. The types of Stenognathus CYCLOCORUS 105 brevirostris Peters, a young and an old specimen, are from “Philippines,” collected by Wallis.* TABLE 16.—Measurements and scale counts of Oxyrhabdium leporinum (Giinther) . No. Locality. Collector. | 4 a ee es) | ma =] Le mee - pees an | | mm, 111 | Mount Santo Tomas, Benguet____ wal E. H. Taylor___-- ono _..| 685 TDD oe (AG ese se ee oe cee eSuete Severs petra eede || ad 6s none | | WS 3| Ba guidieacre ens sure 45 secon aodegms sare cececasd| sees OG, cate wet commas ones \ 114 | he tee eR dome eenaet SARC ea S| R1710 | se pen LAB iey oie! sed (a) SPAT pies en ae oe nese ae o Sn ee i a Ae et | H. Cuming (BO) dibuzoncas sna st ene 7 lees Oh ae ave eee es ot [WAL BSsMeyersan cee IS tLe eal (> [Philip pin eseees so 25 esos oe arene fo Weallisisens ts ace he rans | eae | 635 Ik ; ; f No. : g | Ss a £5 a 3 i Collection. a|eie e'2 | a la a | > lan ah wins a | a mm. 111 93 | 165 | 41 % 2, 15) 4,5 E. H. Taylor. 12| 45) 164! 44 7 2] 15/ 4,5 Do. } 18 | ©) | Ree Pelee 7] 2) 35] 46 Do. | 114 44 | 174 46 7 2); 165) 4,6 Do. | R1710 94 174 3 7 2 15 4,5 Bureau of Science. | a) 105 | 169 43 WS fee hee | 15 4,5 | British Museum. CO) | ee ee ee * 180 45 Masons | 15 4,6 Do. (*) 1085) IIB | Sd SP acca 15 4,5. Berlin. ae eee ee a= ieee 4 Badly mutilated. "Type; counts from Boulenger, loc. cit. © Type of Stenognathus: brevirostris Peters; from Peters. Genus CYCLOCORUS Duméril and Bibron Lycodon, part., REINHARDT, Kongl. Danske Vid. Selsk. Afhandl. 10 (1843) 241. Cyclocorus DUMERIL and BIBRON, Mém. Ac. Sci. 23 (1853) 460; Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 385; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus. (1858) 208; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 95; BouULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1898) 326; BortTcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 114. “Maxillary and dentary bones angularly bent inwards an- teriorly; three or four anterior teeth, in both jaws, increasing in size, the last large and fang-like, followed after an interspace by 12 or 13 small maxillary teeth. Head slightly distinct from * May represent a distinct species. 106 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS neck; eye rather small, with round pupil. Body moderately elongate, cylindrical; scales smooth, with apical pits, in 17 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate; subcaudals single. Hypapo- physes developed throughout the vertebral column.” (Bou- lenger.) This is a Philippine genus having only a single known species, Cyclocorus lineatus (Reinhardt). This species is rather incon- spicuous; it attains a length of about half a meter. CYCLOCORUS LINEATUS (Reinhardt) Lycodon lineatus REINHARDT, Kongl. Danske Vid. Selsk. Afhandl. 10 (1843) 241, pl. 1, figs. 7-9. Cyclocorus lineatus DUMERIL and BiproN, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 386; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus. (1858) 208; PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 688; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1870) part 36, pl. 6, fig. 2; MUuer, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel Mus. (18838) 17; BoETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 114; BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 827; CasTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 488; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 5 (1910) 211; § D 6 (1911) 258; TAyLor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 359; § D 13 (1918) 260. Description of species —(From No. 144, E. H. Taylor col- lection; collected on Canlaon Volcano, Occidental Negros, De- cember 27, 1914, elevation about 900 meters, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult male.) Rostral twice as wide as high, slightly visible from above; internasals small, less than half as large as pre- frontals, more or less rectangular in shape; prefrontal forming its largest sutures with frontal; supraocular and loreal sutures smallest; frontal chevron-shaped, more than twice as long as wide, longer than its distance from end of snout; parietals large, not as long as frontal and prefrontals together, but longer than the former; supraocular not twice as long as wide; nostril be- tween 2 nasals, anterior largest and nearly surrounding nostril; posterior nasal moderate, with a depression on its surface; loreal small, pentagonal, forming its longest suture with second labial; 2 preoculars, superior more than twice as large ag inferior; 2 subequal postoculars; temporals 2 + 2 + 2, third superior being much the largest; 8 upper labials, third to fifth entering eye, seventh, eighth, fifth, and sixth largest, in the order named; 8 lower labials, fourth largest, last 2 small: mental an equilat- eral triangle; 4 labials in contact with anterior chin shields, which are nearly equal in length to posterior pair; latter pair separated from ventrals by 2 rows of small scales; ventrals, 146; anal single; subcaudals, 52; scales in 17 rows, all smooth with apical pits. CYCLOCORUS 107 Color in life-—Bluish brown above with three darker lines beginning near the head and continuing to end of tail; these are scarcely visible anteriorly; each line incloses a series of small, dim, whitish yellow dots; ventrals with a heavy brownish line, extending the length of body; a small whitish dot on end of each ventral, but not continuing on subcaudals; scattered triangular black spots on ventrals; head markings more or less indistinct, regular; labials lighter with a dull stripe below eye, the lighter part edged with darker ; chin and throat dark with cream yellow spots; lower labials with distinct yellow spots. Measurements of Cyclocorus lineatus (Reinhardt). mm. Total length 440 Snout to vent 341 Tail 99 Width of head 13 Length of head 21 Variation.—There is much variation in certain scale elements in this species and it appears to be associated with geographical distribution. The Mindanao forms vary uniformly in scale count from Negros or Luzon specimens, and might be regarded as worthy of subspecific rank. Specimens from Samar and Leyte or southern Luzon would probably connect the various forms. Table 17 shows the differences that exist between the southern and the northern groups. There is a marked differ- ence between the tail length of the Mindanao and the tail length of the northern specimens, especially in the males, the average being about 16 millimeters. The Mindanao specimens average TABLE 17.—Average measurements and scale counts of Cyclocorus lineatus (Reinhardt). ———— =— — : —— =.So= Average. | | | Locality. | Number and sex. , a cI | s 3 3 | | fa) | a > n | | | mm. | mm. | Mindanao. 3-62-4335. 522s | 12 males of nearly equal size_| 440 S721 eee ae seaes| Rees eraser | Various northern localities__| 14 males of nearly equal size_} 438 1 eee erate oss Mindanao: . 322255225 ee | 8 females of nearly equal size _ 460 91 loetecrzes etalon cs Various northern localities__/ 6 females of nearly equal size _ 480 93 | Ee Rane ees Mindanao® 225-3222. 4 <2 4Smalest=.<. 62-6 ee cece es eee Ieee ecee 130 54 Is ierD) osaeas Beek ues oe esr 18 femipleg setts ed eee BeSeaeess } 142 47 Various northern localities__| L6wmal CBs se Jee eae edacea en ate senaee y=] 145 52 Dow aasceynansee eyes se | females. =. asa fase fener | 150 44 | 108 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 15 ventrals less for the males, and 8 ventrals less for the females, while the number of subcaudals in the Mindanao forms is higher in both cases. The range of ventrals for the species is 128 to 157; of subcaudals, 37 to 59. The temporal scales in the Min- danao specimens are normally 1 + 2. Of thirty-one specimens examined twenty-four had the normal arrangement; five had the number on one side only, and two had 2 + 2, which is the normal formula in the northern specimens. The loreal in northern forms is constantly larger, as is the superior preocular which ex- tends well above the loreal; the number of lower labials touching the anterior chin shields averages one less in Mindanao speci- mens. The same variations of color are found in both groups. The color in young specimens varies considerably from that in the adult. The median dark stripe is distinct, going forward to between the eyes where the interorbital bar intersects it; another bar of dark brown crosses it in the occipital region; on TABLE 18.—Measurements and scale counts of Cyclocorus lineatus (Reinhardt). | | | | : | | | No. Locality. Collector. 3 | | Fi bo . | mm. mm, + | 376) 105 | 418 123 | | 423 102 | 9 | 2aT7! 58 | | 9 384!) 79 | | 427 | 117 | 368 (a) | 9 865 8B 143 433 | 101 | 144 440 99 | 145 g 368 82 147 ? 363 60 | | 149 : 425. 70 | 161 |. 396 90 | ) 188 427 96. | 155 : 338 74 | 158 erat, MO 385 79 | 159 | shear: & oon Noonan ocean o $72 79 | | 810 o.} Ov@amonizade’sa:ss:asecescen ce.) 19 525 101 | ; 809... EPATIEG (ete RORY IE TEIN CNOA 440 85 | | 1483 | Marine Biological Expedition... 47192 323) Sumagui, Mindoro EO Shgesiee. (Glas Bur kis sects ction ninth sets 3860 (a) | 240 i, ce id Ooo ae cas on ase Seat aeeeess : GiGxk Swan a0 ee re es Shed ‘ 420 114 | BODieernc a O1 ee late ate Ree a Rites’ Sale SOO eee tes et te coe eee erga ; 465 112 | rs | ® Mutilated. CYCLOCORUS 109 TABLE 18.—Measurements and scale counts of Cyclocorus lineatus (Reinhardt) —Continued. | | | | | gig ee S| | a a fa £ 2 SD) y eo | a| 3 g| 8/3) %,/88| | 3 No. FA FY . PI 5 Le Ar | 2a is 5 Collection. Bs] 5 a 8 S v BY ‘Be ® a | i=] Q g od @ a Q so | € | o } & B ° a a as U oO | Berd coll mt ('] ape |) caged sian a n a | : SS ee eee — 70 132 58 | 1 2 2 8 3,4,5 4 17, 242.) E.H. Taylor. | 71) 128) «57 1 2 2! 8) 8,4,5 3) 17| 142 Do. | 72 18146 1 2 2}; 8/346) 4] I7| 142] Do | | 73 13947 1 2 2 8 3,4,5 3| 17! 142 Do | | 14/189) 46 1 2 2 8 3,4,5 3) 17, 142 Do 15 129 (56 1 2 2 8 | 3,4,5 3| 17| 1+2 Do | 76, 130 (a) 1 2 2 8 34,5 3 17) 142) Do | om ut 48 1 2 2 8 34,5 4) 17] 2+2 Do | 143 146 BL 1 2 2 8/345} 4] 17} 242 Do 144-146 siBD 1 2 2 8 3,4,5 43) AT | Qebe Do 145 14348 1 2 2 8 3,4,5 4] 17) 2te Do 147-157, 89 1 2 2 8 34,5 4) 17| 2+2 Do | 449-151! 40 1 2 2 8 34,5 55 17) 242 Do | 161 145) 49 1 2 2 8 34,5 45° 17 242 Do 153 «145 i 2 2 8 34,5 4: 17) 242 Do 155 14952 1 2 2 8 34,5 4, 17} 242 Do 158 154387 1 2 i) 2 8 | 3.4.5 4) 19 | sgh Do 19) 146) 49/ 1) 2! 2! 8/345) 45 a7\f it? Do | | | | 2+2 Do 810 163, 47 2; 2) 8) 34,5 | 45} 17 | 2+2 Bureau of Science. go9| 161) 44 Q) Bl os) sel 4 | 17] 242} Do. 1483 | 149] 43 b 2 2) 8|3,4,5 4) 17 24+2 > Do. | | | | | | 323/ 143 (a) 1) 2) 2) hee ‘| 4) 17 242. BE. H. Taylor. | | | 13,4,5 |) | g24/ 146) 69; 1; 2! 2) 812,46] 6] 17) 2+2 Do. | } | 4 825) 145 63) 1 2} 2! 818,45! 65] a7] 2+2 Do. 4 Mutilated. either side of this are broad light lines, bordered below by a row of minute white spots edged with black; below this the color is darker brown; on either side of the ventrals is a row of small whitish dots as well as the large triangular black spots. Remarks.—The species is not rare and is probably found in all the larger islands of the Philippines, with the exception of the Palawan group, where IJ suspect it is wanting. On Mount Can- laon, Occidental Negros, and in Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, it appeared to be very common. Specimens are known from several localities in Mindanao, Negros, and Mindoro and from Luzon, Masbate, and Lubang Islands. The most northern record is Ifugao, Mountain Province, Luzon; the most southern, Zam- boanga. The species is confined to the Philippines. On Canlaon Volcano several of the specimens taken contained remains of small Pseudorhabdium mcnamare or Calamaria ger- 110 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS vaisii iridescens, which they would disgorge when captured. The female lays five or six eggs which are about 2 centimeters long when newly laid. These are placed usually under a log. On one occasion a set of eggs was obtained from the interior of a small ant hill at the base of a tree; when opened the eggs were found to contain embryos almost completely developed. The snake is small and inconspicuous and in consequence is not readily recognized as distinct by the Filipinos who class it with certain other snakes to which is applied the name ahas na tulog (sleeping snake) ; this is scarcely appropriate, as the snake is very active and quick to take offense. The Manobos of Min- danao regard it as the young of the black and yellow cobra, Naja samarensis, which they call haguason,; the Ifugaos of northern Luzon regard it as a deadly snake, and manifest great fear of it. The wound made by the bite is rather painful due to the enlarged front teeth. Needless to say, it has no poison. The species can be readily recognized by the single row of subcaudals, and the triangular black spots on the belly. a HOMALOPSIN 42 Nostrils valvular, on upper surface of snout; dentition well developed; hypapophyses developed throughout vertebral col- umn; grooved fangs in posterior part of mouth. Aquatic snakes, giving birth to their young. More or less poisonous, but not dangerous. This subfamily is confined to eastern Asia, Malaysia, and the Papua-Australian region. It contains about ten genera, most of which contain only single species. Only Hurria and Fordonia are positively known to occur in the Philippines. Gerardia has been frequently included in Philippine faunal lists on the author- ity of Duméril and Bibron, who report Gerardia prevostiana Eydoux and Gervais from Manila. The specimen so reported very probably originated in Ceylon, or on the Indian coast. Key to the Philippine genera of the Homalopsine. a’. Nasals in contact; scales keeled............ i . Hurria Daudin (p. 110). a’. Nasals separated by an internasal; scales smooth. Fordonia Gray (p. 115). Genus HURRIA Daudin Hydrus, part., SCHNEIDER, Syst. Amph. 1 (1799) 283. Hurria DAUDIN, Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris 3 (1803) 187; STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 304. HURRIA 111 Hurria FISCHER, Zoognosia ed. 8, 1 (1818) 65. Hurrianus RAFINESQUE, Anal. Nat. (1815) 77. Strephon GOLDFUSZ, Handb. Zool. 2 (1820) 151. Cerberus CUVIER, Reg. Anim. 2d ed. 2 (1829) 81; Gray, Zool. Misc. (1842) 64; Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 68; DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 977; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 278; BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 3874; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 15; Borrrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 110; CAsTo DE Evera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 431. “Maxillary teeth 12 to 17, followed, after a very short inter- space, by two slightly enlarged, grooved teeth; anterior mandib- ular teeth longest. Head small, not very distinct from neck; eye small, with vertically elliptic pupil; snout covered with shields; parietal shields more or less broken up into scales; nasals in contact behind the rostral, semidivided, the cleft ex- tending from the nostril to the first or second labial; two inter- nasals (rarely united) ; loreal present. Body cylindrical; scales striated and keeled, without pits, in 23 to 29 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate, slightly compressed; subcaudals in two rows.” (Boulenger.) Two species are found in the Philippines, the widely distri- buted Hurria rynchops (Schneider) and the rare Hurria mi- crolepis (Boulenger) ; the latter appears to be confined to the Philippines. Key to the Philippine species of Hurria Daudin. a. Four lower labials touching first chin shields; scales in 23 to 27 rows; strongly keeled; ventrals, 132 to 160. H. rynchops (Schneider) (p. 111). a’. Three lower labials touching first chin shields; scales in 29 rows, feebly keeled; ventrals, 163 to 165.. H. microlepis (Boulenger) (p. 114) These snakes are more aquatic than terrestrial in habits. They are somewhat poisonous, but certainly not deadly poi- sonous to man. HURRIA RYNCHOPS (Schneider) Hydrus rynchops SCHNEIDER, Hist. Amph. 1 (1799) 246. Elaps boxformis SCHNEIDER, Hist. Amph. 2 (1801) 301. Hydrus cinereus SHAW, Gen. Zool. 3 (1802) 567. Hurria schneideriana DAUDIN, Nat. Hist. Rept. 5 (1803) 281. Hurria bilineata DAupIN, Nat. Hist. Rept. 5 (1803) 284. Coluber cerebus DAuDIN, Nat. Hist. Rept. 7 (1803) 167. Homalopsis cerberus FITZINGER, Neue Class. Rept. (1826) 55. Python elapiformis MEeRREM, Tent. Syst. Amph. (1820) 89. Python rhynchops MERREM, Tent. Syst. Amph. (1820) S0. Cerberus rhynchops GUNTHFR, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 279; Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 78; BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 874; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 16; BorrTcEr, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 110. 112 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 2 Cerberus cinereus CANTOR, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1839) 54; Gray, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 64. Cerberus acutus GRAY, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 65. Cerberus unicolor GRAY, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 65. . Cerberus boxformis PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 687. Homalopsis boxformis JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1868) 77. Hurria rynchops STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 304, Hurria rynchops GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 599; § D5 (1910) 218; § D 6 (1911) 263; TaAyLor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 364. Description of species.—(From No. 663, E. H. Taylor col- lection; collected at Hinigaran, Occidental Negros, February 19, 1914, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult female.) Rostral pentago- nal, wider than high; a pair of large, irregular nasals im- mediately behind rostral and separating it from internasals; nostrils half-moon-shaped provided with valves, situated near back part of nasal scales, with a small suture running down to edge of each scale and partly dividing it; 2 small triangular internasals, somewhat unequal, followed by prefrontals, latter twice the size of internasals; frontal broken into 2 large and several small scales; parietals broken into nu. erous small scales; preocular elongate and fused below eye with second postocular, separating labials from eye; loreal lozenge-suaped, touching in- ternasal; temporals not distinguishable from parietals or body scales; 11 supralabials, vertically elongate, seventh, eighth, and sixth largest in the order named, first very much elongate, sep- arating second labial from nasal; on the right side first labial is broken into two parts; above last 3 labials is a much enlarged scale; mental narrow, triangular ; 12 lower labials, seventh, sixth, and fifth largest in the order named; last lower labials are very small and scarcely differentiated; 4 labials touching first pair cf chin shields; second pair of chin shields almost entirely be- tween first pair and labials; 25 scale rows, all strongly keeled except the 3 outer; ventrals, 156; anal divided; subcaudals, 66 pairs; head slender, with neck slightly constricted; body short and thick, more than twice as wide as head in its widest part; all the scales show very fine but distinct striations; scales on head imbricate. Color in ife—Above drab to ashy gray, with about fifty nar- row, irregular, broken bars across body, not reaching ventrals laterally; an indistinct light stripe running from snout across upper labials, following the three outer scale rows, and not crossed by dark bars; lower and upper labials with dusky spots; dark stripe begins behind eye and continues to some distance HURRIA 113 on neck; a narrow three-armed spot on occipital region; throat dirty whitish; anterior part of ventral surface mottled with large, irregular mottlings, which grow more numerous through midcle and back part of body; ventral surface of caudal region almust black; head dark, similar to body. Measurements of Hurria rynchops (Schneider). mm. Total length 670 Snout to vent 525 Tail 145 Variation.—Stejneger gives the following limits of variation in scale counts: Scale rows, 23 to 27; ventrals, 132 to 160; subcaudals, 49 to 72. In thirty-three specimens I examined the ventrals range from 140 to 165, the average being 157. In four specimens there are more than 160, in two, less than 150. Sub- caudals range from 51 to 68, the average being 58. Scale rows around body vary between 23 and 27; only one specimen, the largest examined, has 27 rows. The posterior labial in all the specimens is small: and scarcely distinguishable; frequently the anterior upper | vials are broken across the top, while the posterior upper labials are broken across the bottom. The specimens .ary considerably in markings, some being dull lead color with dim darker marblings, while others are light brown with distinct spots or bars. The markings in the young are distinct. TABLE 19.—Measurements and scale counts of Hurria rynchops (Schneider.) | | I cccel bapeee. | ASub= No. Locality. Collector. Sex. |Length.' Tail. Raa eau | als. : | mm, | mm 502 | Bantayan____.___..._.----_-- L. E. Griffin .____- 2 855, | 135 156 60 606 |... 2 Eine eee eee ee Bet orate tere Oi erences c 135 | 138 162 60 BOT! Bad Osean goatee va enatbes Dl wen sced ene co 730) 145 160 68 509 |... rie Se tiaras We cet aiid estore damier t ) 770 | 135] 151] 64 oS Ree Te eee arena? aeere: Wee ne Wis sca c sens c 785 157 160 58 BIB aoe {AG sphere Golsec swe s 815 152) 165 58 | 16: [L223 dO Pete ee Seer cer Eee Gor kak pen cs 782, 158| 159 60 | BIB jen <9 Wo aso ees se se re doves pase ol 670 | 130 | 158 59 Pele een thee Sento ke, ee See lls ee aieeeeececrers So |} 750) 165, 155] 68 BADE Sees Oca thn en Pall ed sees doe ean S70 630 | 120 159 59 522 |___.- (3s eset eet yy eRe arenes [er Ones eee dl 2 790! 130 159 51 B23) ene 3 do: soencraey one Bo bee ee doen esues) w ol 695 | 138} 168 60 | 629/52 doe. 3h hones cee ened od es Likes 5 See led cs 715 120 154 | a61 530 |.---- eee ne eaten! (BAER st yameeeeeente|| ncn | 152} 168) 61 Manilaicn-28:oeorec es eee ow | M. Ligaya .__.___- | ? 960 | 170 | 150 56 ® Mutilated. 161465——8 114 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS TABLE 19.—Measurements and scale counts of Hurria rynchops (Schneider) —Continued. | | Labials. | | | Saree eae ee ee | | No. | Seale | “Touch | ere eee Upper. Lower. | en | | ‘shields. | 602 24 11 13 | 4) Yes | Bureau of Science. 506 23 ll 14 Do. | 507 23 10 13 | Do. | 509 25 li 14 | Do. | 510 23 | 10-11 13 | Do. 512 23 ll 13 | Do. | 515 24! 11-10 | 1B Do. | 518 23 | 10-11) 11-12] il Messi : | Do. 520 23) 9-11 13 Do. | 521 24 ll 13 Do. | 622 23 el pee Do. | 523 23 10 12 Do. | 529 25 u 13 Do. 530 23 1 12 Do. fae lard 27| 18-12 | 14-14 | Do. > Injured. Remarks.—This widely distributed snake is found from India to the Pelew Islands, occurring in Ceylon, Malay Peninsula, the East Indies, and the Moluccas. In the Philippines it has been reported from Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan, Negros, Bantayan, Cuyo, and Polillo, HURRIA MICROLEPIS (Boulenger) PLATE 6, FIGS. 1 To 3 Cerberus cinereus, part., GRAY, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 64. Cerberus microlepis BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 18, pl. 2, fig. 2. Description of species——(From Boulenger.) “Closely allied to [Cerberus] rhynchops, but only three (exceptionally four) lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields;: loreal not touching the internasal; scales much smaller, in 29 rows, rather feebly keeled; and ventrals more numerous, 163-165. Dark olive above, with darker spots; a dark streak on each side of the head, passing through the eye; yellowish beneath, much spotted or marbled with blackish. “Total length 660 millim.; tail 120.” Remarks.—The types were collected by H. Cuming; the exact localities are no longer known. Griffin reports a specimen of this species from Camiguin, Babuyan Islands. As the specimen FORDONIA 115 consists of only a head I am uncertain whether the identification is correct. Only three lower labials touch the first chin shields. Genus FORDONIA Gray Homalopsis, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 332. Fordonia GRAY, Zool. Mise. (1842) 67; Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 76; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 277; BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 378; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 21. Hemiodontus DUMERIL and BiBRON, Mém. Ac. Sci. 23 (1853) 494; Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 882. Hemiodontus, part., JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 3 (1865) 263. Maxillary teeth small, 7 or 8, followed by 2 enlarged grooved teeth. Mandibular teeth subequal. Head depressed, short, broad, scarcely distinct from neck; body stout, cylindrical; tail short. Eye very small, pupil vertical; upper surface of head with large shields; nostril pointing up in a single nasal; an internasal separating nasals, no loreal; 5 upper labials; body cylindrical, scales smooth without apical pits; ventrals rounded; tail short; subcaudals all or part in 2 rows. FORDONIA LEUCOBALIA (Schlegel) Homalopsis leucobalia SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 345, pl. 13, figs. 8 and 9; SCHLEGEL and MULLER, Verh. Nat. Nederl. Overz. Bezitt., Rept. (1844) 61, pl. 8; CANToR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 102, pl. 40, fig. 5 var. Fordonia leucobalia GRAY, Zool. Misc. (1842) 67; Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 77; BouULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 378; SCLATER, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 60 (1891) 245; BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 21. Fordonia unicolor GRAY, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 77; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 277; Zool. Rec. (1865) 154; THEOBALD, Cat. Rept. Brit. India (1876) 182; PeTerRs and Doria, Ann. Mus. Genova 13 (1878) 389; BoErTTcER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1892) 26 (Philip- pines). Hemiodontus leucobalia DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 884; JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 3 (1865) 264; Icon. Gén. (1868) 28, pl. 6, fig. 1. Hemiodontus chalybeus JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 79. Fordonia bicolor THEOBALD, Journ. Linn. Soc. 10 (1868) 56; Cat. Rept. Brit. India (1876) 181. Fordonia variabilis MACLEAY, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. 2 (1878) 219. Description of species —(From Boulenger.) ‘Rostral nearly as deep as broad; frontal a little longer than broad, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals; one pree- and two postoculars; temporals 1+ 3 or 2+ 3; five upper labials, third entering the eye; three lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are small 116 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS and a little larger than the posterior. Scales in 25 to 29 rows, Ventrals 130-156, last frequently divided; anal divided; sub. caudals 26-43. Coloration of upper parts very variable; lower parts uniform yellowish white.” Measurements of Fordonia leucobalia (Schlegel). mm. Total length 930 Snout to vent 820 Tail 110 Remarks.—This species is included on the strength of Boett- ger’s record of a specimen from Manila, collected by Moellendorff. LANGAHIN-& Hypapophyses developed throughout the vertebral column; nostrils not valvular, lateral; terrestrial snakes. Not poisonous. The bulk of this subfamily appears to be confined to Madagas- car. It is surprising to find this single isolated genus Hologer- rhum in the Philippines. This has been placed in the Langahinze on the basis of the diagnostic characters given by Boulenger. Save for this fact it might easily be regarded as a species of Cyclocorus, which it resembles in a superficial manner. Genus HOLOGERRHUM Giinther Hologerrhum GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 186; BorTTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 115; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 33; CASTO DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 438. “Maxillary teeth 20, equal, followed, after a short interspace, by a pair of enlarged, grooved fangs; anterior mandibular teeth strongly enlarged. Head slightly distinct from neck; eye mod- erate, with round pupil. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, with- out pits, in 17 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate; subcau- dals single. Hypapophyses developed throughout the vertebral column * * *” (Boulenger.) This genus, comprising a single species, is confined to the Philippine Islands. HOLOGERRHUM PHILIPPINUM Giinther PLATE 7, FIG. 1 Hologerrhum philippinum GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 186; Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1873) 171, pl. 18, fig. B; BorrrcEr, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 115; BoULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 33; Casto DB ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 438; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 263 (Hologerrwm err. typ.). Cyclochorus maculatus JAN, Icon. Gén. (1870) 36, pl. 6, fig. 3. Cyclochorus lineatus maculata FiscHER, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg 2 (1885) 8&1. HOLOGERRH UM ie Description of species —(From Boulenger.) ‘“Rostral broader than deep, scarcely visible from above; internasals as long as broad, a little shorter than the preefrontals; frontal twice as long as broad, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals; loreal as long as deep; two pre- and two postoculars; temporals, 1 + 1; eight upper labials, third, fourth, and fifth entering the eye; four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the posterior. Scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 144; anal entire; subcaudals 40. Brown above, with a few alternating black spots on the anterior part of the back, and one or two black cross-bars behind the head; a black streak on each side of the head; passing through the eye; upper lip yellowish; a black line on each side of the posterior part of the body and of the tail; lower parts yellowish, with a black dot at the outer end of each ventral shield; on the tail these dots are confluent into a line.” Measurements of Hologerrhum philippinum Giinther. mm. Total length 280 Snout to vent 228 Tail 52 Remarks.—The exact type locality of this species is no longer known, and only a few specimens have been collected. Fischer reports it from southern Mindanao, and a specimen was recently taken in northern Kalinga, Luzon.t CORONELLIN A= Hypapophyses absent on the posterior dorsal vertebree, the lower surfaces of which are smooth. All maxillary teeth solid, none grooved. Scales imbricating, ventrals enlarged trans- versely. Nonpoisonous. A large number of genera belong to this family. They occur in all temperate and tropical parts of the world. Fifteen genera are recognized in the Philippines. Key to the Philippine genera of the Coronelline. a’, Anterior temporals present; parietals separated from labials. b*. Pupil vertically elliptical. c’. Scales without apical pits, smooth. d*. Posterior maxillary teeth increasing in size; anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth strongly enlarged; anterior maxillary teeth separated from the rest by an interspace; scales in 17 LO! LOMO WS esas ceestee nee iasantee eaten st Ophites Wagler (p. 118). } Boulenger, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 33, in a footnote states: “The specimen from Placer, Mindanao, referred to this species by Giinther (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1879, p. 78), belongs to Cyclocorus lineatus.” 118 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS d*. Anterior maxillary teeth, increasing in size to eighth which is much enlarged, followed by an interspace, followed by 3 small and 3 large teeth; scales in 17 rows. Haplonodon Griffin (p. 126). d*. Anterior maxillary teeth, 15 to 20, increasing in size toward the middle of the series, then decreasing to the last 2 or 3 which are large; anterior mandibular teeth large; scales in 17 rows. Stegonotus Duméril and Bibron (p. 129). c. Scales with or without apical pits (absent in Philippine species) ; scales smooth; maxillary teeth, 8 to 10, rather short but stout, increasing in size posteriorly; anterior mandibular teeth slightly larger than posterior; scales in 13 or 15 rows. Dryocalamus Giinther (p. 131). b*. Pupil round. c'. Longitudinal scale rows in even numbers; maxillary teeth, 20 to 23, increasing in size‘ posteriorly; scales in 14 to 18 rows, with apical pits. Large snakes.......0....222::ccceee Zaocys Cope (p. 134). c’. Longitudinal scale rows in odd numbers. d*. Ventrals and subcaudals not or but feebly keeled. e’. Maxillary teeth, 8 to 12, posteriorly compressed; scales in 13 to 21 rows, smooth or feebly keeled, with or without apical DIGS) een ee a ee Holarchus Cope (p. 138). e’. Similar to Holarchus; maxillary teeth, 6 to 8, posteriorly com- pressed; pterygoid teeth absent, palate without teeth, or with 2 or 3 on each palatine; scales in 15 to 17 rows. Oligodon Boie (p. 146). e*. Maxillary teeth equal or nearly so, or posterior ones slightly decreasing in size. f*. Scales with apical pits. Large snakes. g. Seales in 23 to 27 rows............ Gonyosoma Wagler (p. 152). GPs Seales IM'2 ly LOWS tire cszecev eseccsseeses Elaphe Fitzinger (p. 155). f. Scales without apical pits........ Liopeltis Fitzinger (p. 161). d*. Ventral and subcaudal scales strongly keeled and notched. e*. Maxillary teeth, 20 to 33, slightly enlarged posteriorly; median scale row distinctly enlarged; scales in 13 to 15 rows, with apiGal pits a3 ae eee ees Dendrophis Boie (p. 165). e*. Maxillary teeth, 18 to 28, anterior longest; median scale row not or but slightly enlarged; scales in 13 to 15 rows, with @pical ‘pits! 2.220 ea. Dendrelaphis Boulenger (p. 169). a’. No anterior temporals; parietals in contact with labials. b'. Internasals present. c'. Wye distinct....... = . Pseudorhabdium Boulenger (p. 177). Oh Wye Nid den. eserves site sess ace Typhlogeophis Giinther (p. 182). b°. Internasals absent; eye distinet o.oo... Calamaria Boie (p. 183). Genus OPHITES Wagler Lycodon, part., Bob, Isis (1827) 521; WacLer, Syst. Amph. (1830) 186; SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1887) 104; DuméRIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gen. 7 (1854) 3867; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 201; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 315; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 95. OPHITES 119 Ophites WAGLER, Syst. Amph. (1830) 186; DuMERIL and Brsron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 397; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 206; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 322; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 95; STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 356; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 258.* Cercaspis WAGLER, Syst. Amph. (1830) 191; Dumérm and BrBRon, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 3889; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 207; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 323; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 94. Leptorhytaon GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 205; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 328. Tetragonosoma GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 253; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 320. Tytleria THEOBALD, Cat. Rept. As. Soc. Mus. (1868) 66. Lycodon BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 291; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 348; BorTtcrr, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 114; Casto pp ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 437. “Maxillary bent inwards anteriorly in the adult, the three to six anterior teeth increasing in size, fang-like, and separated by a toothless interspace from the rest, seven to fifteen in number, which increase in size posteriorly; anterior mandibular teeth longest, fang-like. Head not or but slightly distinct from neck, more or less depressed; eye small or moderate, with vertically elliptic pupil; nostril large or rather large. Body more or less elongate, cylindrical or slightly compressed; scales smooth or keeled, in 17 or 19 rows, with apical pits; ventrals with or without a lateral keel. Tail moderate; subcaudals single or double.” (Boulenger.) The genus is a comparatively large one with about eighteen known species. It is distributed over southern Asia, and the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. Three species enter the Philippines, but only the rare Ophites tessellatus (Jan) appears to be confined to the Islands. The species best known in the Philippines is Ophites aulicus (Linneus), which is commonly found about houses and stone walls. This species is known as culebra casera and ahas-na-tulog (sleeping snake). The latter name is indeed a good one, as it describes its characteristic habit of remaining motionless when first disturbed. The species of this genus appear to feed almost wholly on small lizards of the Gecko- nide and Scincide. They are absolutely harmless and rarely attempt to bite. They thrive well in captivity and readily take food. * Stejneger, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 356 b, has shown that the long-accepted name Lycodon is fixed for a South American genus of snakes, usually known as Lycognathus. The next name chronologically is Ophites Wagler. 120 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Key to the Philippine species of Ophites Wagler.* a’. A preocular, separating eye from prefrontal. b'. Nasal single; ventrals not angulate........ 0. tessellatus (Jan) (p. 124). b%. Two nasals; ventrals laterally angulate.. 0. aulicus (Linneus) (p. 120). a’, No preocular; prefrontal entering eye.....- 0. subcinctus (Boie) (p. 124). OPHITES AULICUS (LIinnzus) Coluber aulicus LINN@us, Mus. Ad. Frid. 1 (1754) 29, pl. 12, fig. 2; Syst. Nat. ed. 10 1 (1758) 220. Lycodon aulicus Borg, Isis (1827) 551; CopE, Proc. Acad. Sci. Phila- delphia (1860) 262 (var.); Prrers, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 688; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 316; Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 18; Zool. Rec. (1870) 75; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1870) 36, pl. 4, fig. 1; THEOBALD, Cat. Rept. Brit. India (1876) 199; Murray, Zool. Sind. (1884) 883; FiscHEer, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg (1885) 81; BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 294; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 352 (and varieties); Barbour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. 44 (1912) 114. Lycodon capucinus Bolg, Isis (1827) 551. Lycodon unicolor Botr, Isis (1827) 551. Lycodon hebe SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 106, pl. 4, figs. 1-6. Lycodon aulicus, part., CANTOR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 68; DUMERIL and BiproNn, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 869; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 201. Tytleria hypsirhinoides THEOBALD, Cat. Rept. As. Soc. Mus. (1868) 66. Ophites aulicus GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 596; § D 6 (1911) 258; TayLor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 359. Description of species —(From No. 161, E. H. Taylor col- lection; collected in Manila, June 1, 1915, by E. H. Taylor.) Snout and head rather flattened, lips extended; rostral much broader than deep, scarcely visible from above, bent at a strong angle; internasals moderate, not quite as long as prefrontals; latter form their longest suture with each other, their sutures with other scales being subequal in length; frontal not twice as long as wide, forming its longest suture with supraocular, the suture with preocular being very small; length of frontal nearly equal to its distance from end of snout; parietals longer than but not as wide as frontal, bounded behind by 3 enlarged scales, 1 medially and 2 laterally; nostril pierced between 2 “a * Casto de Elera lists Lycodon modestum Schlegel (= Stegonotus mo- destum) ; Lycodon bairdi Steindachner (= Psammodynastes pulverulentus) ; Lycodon culcullatun (= Stegonotus culcullatus), which probably does not occur in the Philippines; and Lycodon capucinus, which is a variety of Ophites aulicus. OPHITES 121 small nasals, the anterior somewhat the larger; loreal large, sub- rectangular, forming its longest suture with prefrontal, not twice as long as wide; a large preocular extending from frontal to third labial; supraocular smaller than preocular but a little longer; 2 small postoculars sub- 1 ie > +4; 9 upper labials, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth largest; third, fourth, and fifth labials entering eye; 10 lower labials, sixth and fifth largest; mental small; 5 labials touch first chin shields (4 on right side) ; mental small, triangular; 2 pairs of chin shields, first pair longest, nearly equal in length to first labials; scales in 17 rows, smooth, outer row somewhat enlarged ; eye small, pupil Fic. 11 Ophites aulicus (Lin- vertical; head distinct from body, very nus); after Boulenger; a. much flattened, with lips and temporal ee te eecrrawiges regions swollen; ventrals, 197; anal dou- ble; subcaudals, 74, double; tail slender, terminating in a long, sharp point. Color in life——Grayish slate to purplish brown above with an irregular network formed by darker scales bordered with white; on neck a dim lighter band forming a broad collar; fore part of head darker slate; lips and neck whitish, each scale with a darker area; lower surfaces immaculate cream white. Variation.—But little variation occurs in this species among specimens found in the various Philippine islands. The follow- ing differences, however, are in evidence. Specimens from the Visayan islands of Masbate, Bantayan, and Negros have the tem- porals 1+ 2 for the most part instead of 2 + 3, which is the usual formula elsewhere. It will be noted from the table that there is a tendency to a reduction in the number of labials touching the anterior chin shields in Luzon specimens. The range of ventrals is 194 to 210; of subcaudals, 62 to 78. These counts are well within the limits set by Boulenger.* One specimen in the collection from Almo:’a, India, differs considerably. The head is rather narrow and pointed; the pre- oculars are not in contact with the frontal, which is true of Philippine specimens; the frontal is proportionally shorter, and equal in size. Temporals * Loe. cit. 122 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS the subcaudal count is 89, much higher than the range limit noted by Boulenger.* The whitish network on the body forms rather definite white bars on the anterior part of the body. Remarks.—Boulenger * has referred all his Philippine spec- imens under his “variety D” (Lycodon aulicus capucinus Boie). In the more than thirty Philippine specimens examined, I find no variations which warrant subspecific treatment. 1 find that variations in markings are due chiefly to age; variations in scalation for the most part do not appear constant. This species is known to occur in most of the larger Philippine islands, with the possible exception of Palawan, and in some of the smaller ones. Griffin states that a specimen was taken in Palawan by C. M. Weber and that this is in the Bureau of Science col- lection. The only one of this species collected by Weber in the collection is from Cuyo, and I believe this is the specimen re- ferred to by Griffin. Certainly if it is found in Palawan it is TABLE 20.—Measurements and scale counts of Ophites aulicus (Linnexus). a gs ¢ fi | No. Locality. Collector. é & = & 35 | gee Be aa | | mm. mm 165 | Occidental Negros....| H. McNamara __.. ------------------- 9 | 578! 74 | 199 987 | 166° |\.==. HOG) = aay te wae so | eed Ouse ee aots Omen a tesieisaceme sais g 485 86 200 65 MGR | sae dO acjotcetataise ee) He oMaylor (<.) Ah e162 aetna et co 460 92 ; 189 70 | H. McNamara - $325 3 | 199 68 eo) 3 for) a IX) S So a an 286 Masbate -__--.....-_-- 3 | @ | 360 63 | 198 | 65 OST Lee 5 [oR B Rn Ser eee Car to Eimear | @ | 885! 65} 199 | 62 663 | Bantayat ..2...<-22- L. E. Griffin : SOOs. <3! -198)! 2.2 2 Ores ap cease ee aie eS Oise te Sa hat tl Poe Aree oS Sc 360 50 | 195 |..... 654 | Cuyo_____._____- ° C.M. Weber ____- shai 610 91 | 190 ; 70 1484 | Mindoro ______---- _| Marine Biological Expedition _______- of 540 93 191 | 66 84) Manilac--222<222222--2) Vis Be Griffins: 2222 2222222022 heel) |} 625. | 1101194. 1°76 | Alsat dg setter _| W. Schultze__.. eee: _.... 9 | 580] 96! 198 | 66 ih) Sis2or Leeda res eee (eich eGriffincease ee oe, wu...) 2 | 780! 108 206 1943 | W829 Les. dO eeaserce ees ese (0 (Vesna to ane ERS Se eee PAIN 781 | 182 | 202 | 69 cc. eee AG onccmwae nts coats Sy Ps tacos aunce cage ceded ee ycke o | 578 | 103 206 78 1624 |...-- ie Loc secede eae e aeons Oye oa eemae Jebadeen cence tS bob) TBBut 210 67 1629 |___-- Ors oe ane ae aC eee tees ae _| 3& | 637} 295 | 204 |a56 1562) | -22d0, secspeesewss EG rittineacseecns seas are ees So | 445 | 92 | 194 | 71 {61 [ese Mots-nces suse Pash Tay lore 22 ee Seg ee $ | 522105 197 74 R 1314 | Almora, India_._-___- SEAL ZAS CALE IA Sse c StealtssacsaleObe Bo ® Mutilated. * Catalogue, loc. cit. OPHITES 123 TABLE 20.—Measurements and scale counts of Ophites aulicus (Linmnzus ) —Continued. | Labials. 7 | ‘ | be a a Sey ee eh ee I No. fe Ps be | eae 5 q 5 | Collection. o Co] So ees 5 © a | By 2 | ge | S42) @ 3 | &§ | | Ee a see ed oth ae [Teese sore pa Faint Let ara : | 165 | 9 | 10 | 3,4,5 5 1 17 | 2+3 E. H. Taylor. | | { 142431 | | a 9 10 | 3,4,5 2 i * ae De, | | 167 9 | 10 | 345; 6 2 in 48 Do. | H | 168 9) 10 | 3,4,5| 5 2 17 14248 Do | 170 9 | 10: | “Bpaye") 6 2 | av] 14248 Do 171 9| 10 | 3,4,5 5 2) 47 14243 Do “he 174 , 10 | 3, 4,6 5 2 17 i ‘ | Do lige Gee 286 9 | 10 3,4,5 5 2 wh TB 4 Do. | | 287 9| 10 3,4,5 5 2 wl 14243 Do. 663 | 9} 10 345| 43/| 2 7 | 14+2+8 | Bureau of Science. 837 | 9) 10 | 3,4,5 Bl) <2 Ww 14243 Do. 654 | 9/ 10 | 34,6 5 | 2 17 243 Do. 1484 | 9) 10-9! 3,4,5 B4, 2 17 243 Do. 84 | 9] 10 | 34,5 S| 2 17 248) Do. | 641 i] 19 | 34,6) 2-6 | 2 17 2+3 | Do. 1325 FI) 210% | 34,5 | 4) 2 17 2+3 Do. 1329| 9] 10 | 345, 46 | 2 17 248) De. | | oe 1520 9) 10 | 3,4,5 5 2 in { Peet Do. | | | | | | i i 2431] | sal 9) 0 | nae a 2 17 ji 244) Do. | 1529 | 9/ 10 | 34,6) 45, 21 17 24+3 Do. 1552 | 9 | 10 34,5) 4-5 2 17 243 | Do. | | 0 | 1 ; 161 9) 10 | 3,4,5) 5-4 2 wi pygt4 | BE. H. Taylor. | | 4 | R1314 | 9 | 10 | 3,4,5 6 2 17 | 2+4 | Bureau of Science. | rare, since several other collections made there contain no specimen of this common snake. In Manila it is especially common in houses, where it feeds on the small geckos, Peropus mutilatus, Cosymbotus platyurus, and Hemidactylus frenatus. One gentleman assured me that he had killed fourteen in his house during a single rainy season. It is absolutely harmless, usually very gentle, and may be handled with impunity. Known from Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Ban- tayan, Masbate. It is uncommon in eastern Mindanao, as not a specimen was found in my two years’ collecting there. Fischer * reports Lycodon aulicus var. from southern Mindanao. *Loc. cit. 124 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS OPHITES TESSELLATUS (Jan) Lycodon tessellatus JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 96; Icon. Gén. (1870) 36, pl. 4, fig. 2; Miitupr, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel Mus. (1883) 17; BorTtcER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 114; BoULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 351; CASTO DE ELerA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 487. Ophites tesselatus GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 258 (typ. err.) Description of species—‘Snout moderately depressed; eye rather small. Rostral broader than deep, just visible from above; internasals much shorter than the prefrontals; frontal nearly as long as its distance from the end of the snout, slightly shorter than the parietals; loreal elongate, not entering the eye, forming a suture with the internasal; one pre- and two postoculars; temporals small, scale-like, 2+ 3; nine upper labials, third, fourth, and fifth entering the eye; four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are longer than the poste- rior. Scales smooth, in 17 rows. Anal divided. Subcaudals in two rows. Above with three series of alternating black spots; ventrals and subcaudals brown, edged with whitish.” (Boulenger.) Remarks.—The type locality is “Manila auf Luzon.” This is the only exact locality known. Miiller’s specimen is labeled “Philippinen.” Evidently this species is very rare. OPHITES SUBCINCTUS (Boie) PLATE 8 Lycodon subcinctus Bork, Isis (1827) 551; SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 117, pl. 4, figs. 14, 15; BouLENGER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1890) 34. Lycodon platurinus CANTOR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 69. Ophites subcinctus DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 398; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 206; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 322; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1870) 86, pl. 5, fig. 4; BLANFORD, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1881) 222, pl. 21, fig. 2; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sei. § A 4 (1909) 596; § D 6 (1911) 258. Elapoides annulatus SAUVAGE, Bull. Soc. Philom. VII 8 (1884) 144. Description of species —(From No. 659, Bureau of Science collection; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, August 26, 1908, by C. M. Weber.) (Adult male.) Head and snout much de- pressed, almost spatulate: rostral scarcely visible above, much broader than high, the sutures with internasals and nasals sub- equal; internasals small, about one-third the size of prefrontals, narrowed medially, about as wide as long; pretrontals: large, about as wide as long, longest on sides, forming mutual suture, entering eye; frontal longer than wide, longer than and more than twice as wide as supraoculars, much shorter than its dis- OPHITES 125 tance from end of snout, and much shorter than parietals; latter moderate, about one and a half times as long as broad, bordered by 3 temporals and a postocular; nasal apparently entire, nar- rowed in the middle, the posterior portion higher and rather pointed behind; no preocular; loreal elongate, twice as long as high, widely separated from internasal, entering eye, in contact with 2 labials below; supraocular about twice as long as wide; 2 Fic. 12. Ophites subcinctus (Boie) ; drawing of a Palawan specimen; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; x 2. small postoculars; temporals 2 + 2+ 2 on left side, and 1+ 2 + 2 on right, third upper largest; 8 upper labials, third, fourth, and fifth entering eye, seventh largest; mental very small, wider than deep; 9 lower labials, 4 touching anterior chin shields, which are wider and somewhat enlarged; scales in 17 rows, the 11 median rows slightly but distinctly keeled; ventrals, 208, angulate laterally ; anal divided; subcaudals, 64 pairs; eye small, less than its distance from nostril. Color in alcoholAbove dull purplish, banded with 10 light lavender bands, each about 6 scales wide, darker medially; the first band crosses occipital region; labials light colored; throat and belly yellowish without markings; tail dimly banded with 6 bands almost same shade as ground color; below yellowish white. Measurements of Ophites subcinctus (Boie). Total length 505 Snout to vent - 416 Tail 89 Width of head 11 Variation.—A second specimen in the collection agrees with the described specimen, save that the head is less flattened, due 126 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS probably to the fact that it is younger. The rostral is a little more exposed above, and the postoculars are fused into one scale. The temporal formula is 1 + 2-+2. The color above is a dark brown with 16 white bands from head to tail; a brown streak, partially following the parietal suture, divides the occip- ital band. TABLE 21.—Measurements and scale counts of Ophites subcinctus (Bote). | | | No. | Locality. Collector. ipsa Length. Tail. ee | ae aa | | | | mm. mm. | 659 Iwahig, Palawan _-_-...-.-.-..... -.....| C. M. Weber.--------- of 605 89 | \ 751 jcc Oi ane tales ee te na ev yen gee dae jane Oe tesa cee ee ye 254 44 | = Saar = = ie pala ae Raa satis aa a | : | | Sub- Labials P Ven Scale Post- | Width; F | No trals cane Anals.| os se ecarewas of head. Collection. ees Sone ae Se es ‘i | 659 | 208 64 | 2 17 | 3,4,5 2, 11 | Bureau of Science. | | | 151) .199) 64 | 2 17 | 3,4,6 1| 7 Do. | t i bo ee eee The Palawan form agrees quite well with the specimens from Asia and Java. Boulenger gives the variation in ventrals as 198 to 227; in subcaudals, 61 to 89. He also mentions the fol- lowing variations: Sometimes the sixth labial enters the eye, making 4 in all; sometimes the loreal does not enter the eye; the anal is rarely entire. The two specimens above recorded are the first and, I believe, the only records for the Philippines. Genus HAPLONODON Griffin Haplonodon GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 5 (1910) 211; § D 6 (1911) 258. “Maxillary teeth in two series, separated by a short inter- space; the posterior teeth of each series largest, 14 or 15 in all. Anterior end of maxilla bent slightly inward. “Anterior mandibular teeth enlarging to the fourth, followed by smaller teeth of equal size. Head distinct from neck. Eye moderate, pupil vertically elliptic. Body slender, slightly com- pressed; tail long. Scales smooth, in 17 longitudinal rows, without apical pits; subcaudals in two rows.” (Griffin.) Only a single species known. Exclusively a Philippine form. HAPLONODON PHILIPPINENSIS Griffin PLATE 9 Haplonodon philippinensis GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 5 (1910) 212, text fig. 1, pl. 1; § D 6 (1911) 258. HAPLONODON 127 Description of species.—(From the type, No. 883, Bureau of Science collection ; collected in Polillo, October 1909, by C. Cano- nizado.) (Adult male.) Anterior end of maxillary curved in- ward but slightly; teeth on maxilla increase in size from first to eighth, the last 3 or 4 strong and fanglike; after a short interspace 3 small teeth follow, which in turn are followed by 3 large teeth, fanglike and laterally compressed; the 4 ante- rior mandibular teeth increase in size to fourth, and are consid- erably larger than the remaining ones which are of nearly equal size; head somewhat triangular, rather flat, distinct from neck; rostral broader than deep, folded about snout, its posterior part pointed and entering between internasals, the portion visible above being equal to one-third its distance from rostral; inter- nasals small, narrowed medially, the suture between them one- third to one-fourth that between prefrontals; latter large, more than four times the size of internasals, more than two-thirds the length of frontal; latter almost straight on its anterior margin, about as broad as long, twice the width of supraoculars and a little longer; parietals elongate, bordered by 3 (4 on right side) temporals, nearly twice as long as frontal; nasal single, of very irregular shape, elongate, ante- rior part much lower than poste- rior; nostril pierced obliquely; a \¥ loreal present, more than twice as long as wide, entering eye; a single preocular narrowly sepa- rated from frontal; 2 small See EGE Fic. 13. Haplonodon philippinensis Grif- subequal postoculars; temporals fin; a, head, dorsal view; 6, head, ventral 2+2; 9 upper labials, fourth view. and fifth entering eye, seventh and eighth largest and nearly equal, 9 lower labials, 5 in contact with anterior chin shields which are larger than posterior; mental much wider than deep; scales smooth, in 17 rows, without apical pits; body slender, distinctly compressed; lateral keels on ventrals, but scales not noticeably notched; ventrals, 203; anal entire; subcaudals, 95 (tip of tail missing). Color.—Dorsal surface of body and tail crossed by seventy- nine dark brown bands, separated by narrow bands of white, finely dotted with brown; the edges of latter bands pure white, outlining the darker and broader bands prettily; in the dorsal portions of the lighter bands the brown dots are often con- fluent, producing a grayish brown color; dots finer and more 128 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS separated toward ventral surface; ventral portions of most of the brown bands narrowly separated from dorsal parts by fine white lines; a large brown spot on end of most of ventral scales; ventral surface of head and body white; brown dots become increasingly numerous on lower surface as anus is ap- proached; lower surface of tail closely covered with brown dots; upper surface of head very dark brown, almost black, adorned by a reticulate pattern of fine white lines; centers and lower edges of upper labial scales white, their adjoining edges brown; all scales extremely smooth and glossy. Measurements of Haplonodon philippinensis Griffin. mm. Total length 800 Tail 196 Head length 23 Head width 18 Variation.—A second specimen taken near Los Banos, Luzon, is smaller and immature. The head is triangular, very distinct from body, and noticeably flattened. There are eighty-five brown bars across the body, thirty-one of which belong to the tail. The tail is extremely slender. The color of the specimen is darker brown than that of the adult described. TABLE 22.—Measurements and scale counts of Haplonodon philippinensis Griffin. [ | 2 oat | , | Sex- | No. | Locality. Collector. liorawe: Length. | oes Ree == | | mm Ny 788883 NP OMNI Gee Cae okt ate ean oe A tot sc he C. Canonizado _.-------., % | 800 | 21.) Los BanOs) MuzOM sors cecedodueke se Grcesausisae se | pH. Maly lors 7 acjernnces ye 305 | ees = = oo ee | = = See ies a ' SO | ; Sub- q Labials . | Ven- ‘ Upper | Scale ss “ No. | Tail. | tate. | bre labials.| cone. | pie Collection. | | | a oe | | —— | — —|———. - —|— |——— ee aera mm, | | | | a 883 196 203 96 | 9 17 4,5 | Bureau of Science. | 211 81 | 206 | 127 | 9 17 4,5 | E. H. Taylor. | « Type. Remarks.—These two specimens are the only ones known, which is rather remarkable in view of the fact that the localities known are on separate islands. Evidently it is extremely rare. It is unknown to the inhabitants of Polillo, according to Griffin.* The people in the locality where it was taken by myself said they had never seen a similar specimen. * Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 5 (1910) 213. STEGONOTUS 129 Genus STEGONOTUS Duméril and Bibron Lycodon, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 104; DuUMERIL and Bisron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 367; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 97. Stegonotus DUMERIL and BIBRON, Mém. Ac. Sci. 23 (1853) 477; Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 680; BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 364. Herpetodryas, part., JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 80. Lielaphis GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1863) 59; (1877) 129. Zamenophis GUNTHER, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. IV 9 (1872) 21. Pseudolycodon PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1876) 534. Spilotes PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 685; Bortrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 108; Casto DE ELerRA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 92. Odontomus BorTTcER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 114; CasTo DE ELeRA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 437. “Maxillary teeth 15 to 20, increasing in size towards the middle of the series, then decreasing in size to the two or three last, which are again large; anterior mandibular teeth enlarged. Head more or less distinct from neck; eye moderate or rather small, with vertically elliptic pupil. Body elongate, cylindrical or feebly compressed; scales smooth, with apical pits, in 17 rows; ventrals obtusely angulate laterally. Tail moderate or long; subcaudals in double or single row.” (Boulenger.) There are two species known from the Philippines. Key to the Philippine species of Stegonotus Duméril and Bibron. a’. Ventrals, 220 to 232; subcaudals, 100 pairs; over 2 meters in length S. muelleri Duméril and Bibron (p. 129). a’, Ventrals, 195 to 214; subcaudals, 112 to 123; about 1 meter in length S. dumerilii Boulenger (p. 130). The genus Stegonotus is distributed over the eastern Philip- pines, the Moluccas, Papuasia, and northern Australia. No species has yet been discovered in Celebes or Borneo. The two species found in the Philippines are endemic. Both are rare. They are nonpoisonous. STEGONOTUS MUELLERI Duméril and Bibron Stegonotus muelleri DUMERIL and BriBron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 682; BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 367; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 259. Spilotes samarensis PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 685; BOETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 108; Casto pE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Fili- pinas 1 (1895) 429. Herpetodryas muelleri JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 81. Description of species.—(After the type description of Spilotes samarensis Peters.) Frontal not quite as long as 161465——_9 130 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS broad, almost triangular, the anterior edge a straight line, rounded behind; an elongate loreal, longer than deep; 2 pre- oculars and 2 postoculars; 9 upper labials, fourth and fifth en- tering eye; 2 long anterior temporals followed by 3 others, the anterior in contact with postoculars, scales in 17 smooth rows; ventrals, 232; anal entire; subcaudals, 81 pairs. Color.—Upper side of head dark olive, lips and underside dirty yellow-white; upper part of body darker with large, broad, dark flecks; below uniform dirty yellow. Measurements of Stegonotus muelleri Dumeril and Bibron. mm. Total length 2,070 Snout to vent 1,680 Tail 390 Length of head 50 Variation.—Boulenger gives the known ventral range for the species 220 to 232; that of the subcaudals, 81 to 100. As to the color of the type (?) he states: “Uniform brown above; lips and lower parts dirty yellowish white.” Remarks.—Only three or four specimens of this rare snake have been found, ail apparently from Samar Island. It attains a length of more than 2 meters. It is harmless to man. STEGONOTUS DUMERILII Boulenger Lycodon miilleri DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 82; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 203. Odontomus mueclleri GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 78; Boetrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 114; Casto DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 487. Stegonotus dumertlii BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 368; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 259. Description of species —(From an unnumbered specimen, Santo Tomas Museum, labeled ‘Filipinas,’ collector unknown; local name, taling bilao.) Head distinct from neck, rather spatulate; rostral broader than deep, narrowly but distinctly visible from above, pointed behind, nearly as deep as broad, its smallest suture formed with first labial, its largest with inter- nasal; latter about as wide as deep, narrowed medially, the suture between them being about half of that between pre- frontals; latter much broader than deep, in contact with both preoculars and forming their smallest suture with inferior pre- ocular; frontal longer than bvoad, its sides nearly parallel, its anterior edge a straight line, as long as its distance from end of snout, shorter than parietals, scarcely twice as broad as DRYOCALAMUS 131 supraocular; parietals very much elongate, almost twice as broad as long, touching only 1 postocular; nasal elements mu- tilated but nasal apparently a single scale, elongate, the nostril near the middle; 1 loreal a little longer than high; 2 preoculars coequal in size, nearly as large as loreal and larger than post- oculars; supraoculars nearly twice as long as wide; 3 post- oculars, upper largest; temporals 2+ 3; 8 temporals border- ing parietals; 9 upper labials, fourth and fifth entering eye, sixth and seventh largest; 9 lower labials, 5 touching anterior chin shields, which are very much larger than second pair and widely separated from each other at their upper ends; eye quite large, with pupil distinctly vertical, oval; 17 scale rows, smooth, outer row not enlarged; ventrals, 198; anal single; subcaudals, 122. Color in alcoholAbove dark purplish brown with eighteen white bands on body and fourteen on tail, each band three scales wide on back and widening to four or five on side; small whitish spots in temporal region and on lower edges of upper la- bials; yellowish below, of a muddy color under tail. Measurements of Stegonotus dumerilii Boulenger. mm. Total length 335 Snout to vent : 240 Tail 95 Remarks.—I have been able to examine only this single, very young specimen of Stegonotus dumerilw. It differs from Bou- lenger’s description in having 3 instead of 2 postoculars, and in the color and markings. However, these differences in color and markings may be due to the age of the specimen. Boulenger lists four specimens. The ventrals and subcaudals vary between 195 and 214, and 112 and 123, respectively. The counts for the specimen described le within these limits. Known from Samar (Boettger), Surigao (Giinther), and Da- raga and the Iriga Volcano, Luzon (Peters). It is not known outside the Philippines. Genus DRYOCALAMUS Giinther Nympha (non Martini) FITZINGER, Neue Class. Rept. (1826) 29. Lycodon, part., SCHEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 104. Odontomus (non Kirby) DUMERIL and BiIBRoN, Mem. Ac. Sci. 23 (1853) 463; Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 450; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 206; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 95; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. Ind. (1864) 238. Dryocalamus GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 121; BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 369. 132 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Hydrophobus GUNTHER, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. III 9 (1862) 127; BoULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 297. Nymphophidium GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 2385. Ulupe BuANForD, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 47 (1878) 129. “Maxillary teeth 8 to 10, rather short but stout, increasing in size posteriorly; anterior mandibular teeth a little longer than the posterior; one or two more or less distinct tooth-like knobs on the basisphenoid. Head distinct from neck, much depressed; eye moderate or rather large, with vertically elliptic pupil. Body slender, slightly compressed; scales smooth, in 13 or 15 rows, with apical pits;* ventrals strongly keeled on each side. Tail moderate; subcaudals in two rows.” (Bou- lenge.) The genus is small, only six or seven species being known. Three are found in the East Indies. Dryocalamus subanulatus is confined to the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra; D. tristrigatus is found in Borneo and the Natuna Islands: and D. philippinus is found in Palawan. The last species resembles D. tristrigatus in markings, and is otherwise similar save for the absence of apical pits on scales. Snakes of this genus are harmless. DRYOCALAMUS PHILIPPINUS Griffin 2 PLATE 10, FIG. 2; PLATE 11, FIGS. 1 AND 2 Dryocalamus philippinus GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 596; § D 6 (1911) 259. Description of species—(From No. 240, E. H. Taylor col- lection; collected at Balabac, 1915, by C. M. Weber.) Head distinct from neck, rather flattened; rostral more than one and a half times as broad as high; part visible above less than one- third its distance from frontal; internasals about as wide as long, the suture between them equaling the suture between prefrontals; latter larger than internasals, bending down on sides, wider than deep; frontal broadly angled anteriorly, less than one and one-third times as long as broad, longer than its distance from end of snout, as long as or minutely shorter than parietals; latter longer than wide, touching superior postocular; nasal large, with nostril very small, pierced near its center; loreal very large, nearly twice as long as wide, entering eye; no preocular (or, if present, fused with supraocular) ; 3 post- oculars, subequal in size; 2 anterior temporals with the formula 1 (aes a: : Cesta be 2 . 3 ‘ 149 +3) 7 upper labials, third and fourth entering eye: labials * There are no apical pits in Dryocalamus philippinns Griffin.—E. H. T. DRYOCALAMUS 133 in the following order of size: sixth, fifth, fourth, third, seventh, second, first; 7 lower labials, 4 touching anterior chin shields, which are more than twice as large as second pair; scales in 15 smooth rows, without apical pits; ventrals, 216; subcaudals, 87; both ventrals and subcaudals strongly keeled and turned up on side; anal single. Color in alcohol_—Above dark black-brown with a median cream-colored stripe covering median scale rows and the edges of the two adjoining rows; a second stripe on fourth row of scales; below this a black-brown stripe covering third and part of second scale rows; outer scale row cream; below immaculate, the lateral edges of ventrals with brown dots except on anterior part of body; head dark with lighter markings of cream on posterior part of head; upper labials yellowish. Measurements of Dryocalamus philippinus Griffin. mm. Total length 375 Snout to vent 287 Tail 88 Length of head 15 Width of head 6.8 Variation.—The type is a small immature specimen in the Bureau of Science collection and was collected by W. Schultze in Iwahig, Palawan. A second specimen in the Bureau of Science collection is also from Palawan. This specimen has largely lost its color in alcohol; the head has much more light marking than the described specimen, and agrees with that of the type. TABLE 23.—Measurements and scale counts of Dryocalamus philippinus Griffin. | : man No. pens Locality. Collector. Length.| Tail. teal; i - aes ee eae mm, mm, | 419 g Iwahig, Palawan______-----_---- | L. E. Griffin.----.---. | 485 116 | 226 420) ye |_---- dogt cite ees AN ea | W. Schultze .-_...-_-- | eal 57 | 216 240| @ | Balabac’.-...-..-.:---2-2s2zc200: C.M. Weber--.-.----- 375 8&8 216 z= 3 = = eee Sa =e | | | | | | Labials. | | | Ue | | Preocu-} Post- : ie C ction, | No. cau | Ent Touch | lars. oculars. ollgecion | Cals. | Upper. Lower. ee er) chin | ! | | | &Ye |shields. | | | | | | a a aed, | 419 96 7 18 3, 4 4] nF 3 Bureau of Science. | 420 99 | mp ae) saya 4| 1} 2-3] Do. | 240/ 87 | Uli 3,4 4 | 0 | 3) BE. H. Taylor. 134 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS The known range of the ventrals is 216 to 225; of the sub- caudals, 87 to 99. The specimen from Balabac has no preocular (being fused with the supraocular), but a preocular is present in both the type and the second Palawan specimen. The type has only 2 postoculars on the left side and 3 on the right. Three is the normal number of postoculars. Remarks.—This species, as has been remarked by Griffin, is related to Dryocalamus tristrigatus Gtinther, and strongly resembles it in color and markings. The apical pits in the scales are absent in this species; the postoculars are three instead of two; and a preocular is normally present. Griffin remarks as follows on the dentition in the type: Maxillary teeth 8; the last two considerably larger than the others, compressed toward their points, and separated from the first six by a short space. The anterior mandibular teeth are slightly longer than the posterior. There is one distinct tooth-like knob on the basisphenoid. The species is known only from Palawan and Balabac. It is not poisonous. Genus ZAOCYS Cope Coryphodon, part., GUNTHER Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus. (1858) 107; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 63. Zaocys COPE, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1860) 563; GUN- THER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 255; Borrrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 108; BOoULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 329; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1898) 374; CaAsTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 428. Herpetodryas, part., JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 80. Zapyrus GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 256. “Maxillary teeth 20 to 33, increasing in size posteriorly; mandibular teeth subequal. Head elongate, distinct from neck; eye large, with round pupil; a subocular beneath the przocular. Body elongate, a little compressed; scales smooth or keeled, with apical pits, in 14, 16, or 18 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail long; subcaudals in two rows.” (Boulenger.) Two species occur in the Philippines. Key to the Philippine species of Zaocys Cope. 1 a’. Seales smooth, in 14 rows......000000.. Z. luzonensis Giinther (p. 185). a’. Scales keeled on 2 or 4 middle rows; scales in 16 to 18 rows. Z. carinatus Gtinther (p. 186). Zoaocys luzonensis Giinther is known only from the type and two other specimens; Z. carinatus is found in the Philippines only in Palawan and appears to be confined to that island, where it is not rare. ZAOCYS . 135 Casto de Elera includes Coryphodon fuscus? (= Zaocys fus- cus) from Borongan, Samar; also under the same genus, Cory- phodon, he lists C. mucosus (=Ptyas mucosus) Linneeus from Bataan, Luzon, C. Korros (= Ptyas korras) Reinwardt from Manila, and C. hexanotus (— Xenelaphis hexagonotus) Cantor from the Calamianes. It is highly probable that these records are erroneous. ZAOCYS LUZONENSIS Ginther PLATE 12, FIGS. 1 AND 3; PLATE 13, FIGS. 1 AND 2 Zaocys luzonensis GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1873) 169; BoeTTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 108; BoULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 377, pl. 26, fig. 2; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D6 (1911) 259. Description of species.—‘‘Rostral as deep as broad, visible from above; internasals shorter than the prefrontals; frontal once and one third as long as broad, as long as its distance from the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals; loreal at least twice as long as deep; one preocular, with a subocular below it; two postoculars; temporals 2 + 2; eight upper labials, fourth and fifth entering the eye; five lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are much shorter than the posterior. Scales smooth, in 14 rows. Ventrals 205; anal di- vided; subcaudals 119. Pale olive-brown above, the scales edged with black; lower parts yellow, turning to dark olive poste- riorly.” (Boulenger.) Measurements of Zaocys luzonensis Gunther. mm. Total length 2,500 Snout to vent 1,850 Tail 650 Remarks.—The type in the British Museum is a male from Luzon, collected by A. B. Meyer; the exact locality is no longer known. A specimen from Leyte is reported by Boettger.* The species is represented in the Bureau of Science collection by the head of a specimen (Plate 13, figs. 1, 2) captured at Sarai, Paete, Laguna Province, Luzon, by R. C. McGregor. According to field notes the specimen measured 2.24 meters. The following are the characters of the head scales: Rostral narrowly visible above, one-fifth wider than high; internasals broader than long; prefrontals very much broader than deep; frontal little longer than its distance from rostral, one-fourth longer than wide, a little shorter than parietal, as long as but * Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1890) Ixiii. 136 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS much wider than supraocular; parietals longer than wide, the part bending down behind eye ending in a sharp point, touching only anterior postocular; posterior nasal higher than interior but less broad; loreal rectangular, twice as long as high; 2 pre- oculars, superior widely separated from frontal, scarcely visible above, five or six times as large as the inferior; 2 postoculars, su- perior largest; 2 elongate anterior temporals placed diagonally, both touching inferior postocular ; 2 posterior temporals; 8 upper labials, fourth and fifth entering orbit (the 2 scales partially fused on the left side) ; 10 lower labials, 5 touching anterior pair of chin shields, which are less than two-thirds as long as poste- rior; posterior chin shields in contact for half their length, touching 3 lower labials; scales with apical pits, in 16 rows around neck (at a point 2 centimeters behind parietals) ; eye large, its diameter equal to its distance from nostril; a distinct depression across the head in the anterior parietal region. Measurements of Zaocys luzonensis Giinther. mm Total length * 2,240 Length of head 47 Width of head 28 Depth of head at eye 16 Length of snout from eye 13 Diameter of eye 9 ‘From field notes of Mr. McGregor. ZAOCYS CARINATUS Ginther PLATE 12, FIGS. 2 AND 4 Coryphodon carinatus, part., GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus. (1858) 112. Zaocys carinatus GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 256: BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 1 (1893) 377, pl. 27, fig. 1; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 259; BarBour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. 44 (1912) 115. Ptyas korros, part., BLANFORD, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1881) 221. Description of species —(From No. 1342, Bureau of Science collection ; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, March, 1911, by C. H. Lamb.) Head elongate, distinct from neck; rostral about one and one-fifth as wide as deep, narrowly visible from above, its suture with nasals longer than sutures with internasals: latter wider than long, a little more than one-third the size of pre- frontals and widely separated from loreal; prefrontals about as long as wide, in contact laterally with both loreals: frontal a little longer than wide, wider than supraoculars but shorter, its length equal to its distance from rostral: parietals longer than wide, only a little longer than frontal; nostril between 2 nasals: ZAOCYS 137 2 loreals, the anterior largest and in contact with upper pre- ocular; 2 preoculars, the upper very large, the lower very small; 2 postoculars; 2 anterior temporals (the posterior temporals are fused with the lower anterior; normally 2 + 2) ; 9 upper labials, fifth and sixth entering eye; 9 lower labials, 5 touching anterior chin shields; anterior chin shields shorter and narrower than posterior; scales with apical pits (those on body with 2, those on neck with 3 or more pits); scales in 16 rows on body, 20 rows about neck, the 2 median dorsal rows strongly keeled, com- mencing back some distance on neck and continuing a short distance on tail; on latter half of body the scale rows bordering the median rows are also keeled, and immediately above anus all the scale rows are strongly keeled; ventrals, 207; ana] di- vided; subcaudals, 108 (extreme tip of tail missing) ; eye large, equal to its distance from anterior part of nostril. Color in alcohol—Above dark olive gray anteriorly, netted over with whitish yellow, the network formed by the yellow edges of the two vertical scale rows, and the yellowish skin between them (the yellow color scarcely observable, unless the skin is distended) forming alternating scale rows with black edges and black skin between them; posteriorly the ground color becomes a lighter olive brown, and the yellowish network more pronounced and denser; the black color on latter part of body forms irregularly edged longitudinal lines, three on each side; that on the outer row of scales is most pronounced, its zigzag edges extending to ventrals; ventral scales on anterior part of. body yellowish; posteriorly also yellowish, with dark spots or dim lines, a pronounced median zigzag line on ventral surface of tail; tail, above with each scale heavily edged with black, and with a circular, light yellow, central area. Measurements of Zaocys carinatus Giinther. mm. Total length 2,340 Snout to vent 1,782 Tail 558 Head length 51 Head width 28 Variation.—A second specimen in the Bureau of Science col- lection, also from Palawan, has only the 2 median scale rows keeled; there are 3 loreals instead of 2, the 2 posterior being superimposed; the temporals are normal. The recorded range of ventrals for extra-Philippine specimens* is 208 to 215; of * Boulenger, loc. cit. 138 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS subcaudals, 110 to 118; the range of ventrals is extended some- what by the scale count of the described specimen. The scale rows, 16 or 18 on middle of body. Renarks.—This species has only recently been found in Pa- lawan and was first reported by Griffin. This is the only Phil- ippine island where it has been found and there it is said to be common. It grows to a length of more than 3 meters. Superfi- cially it resembles Naja hannah Cantor in both size and mark- ings. It is harmless. It is also known from Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula. TABLE 24.—Measurements and scale counts of Zaocys carinatus Gtinther. No. Sex. Locality. | Collector. ‘Length. Tail. | ee eeceaer oreg aae | 1 mm, mm. | 1342; ¢ | 2340 | 558 | 1340 1830 | 465 esi | Saning, °|, Sea — 4 ablais. cale rows. | | Ven- | Sub- | No. |trals:|!scaus|==—==-=,- == == = Collection. | dals. | Upper. Lower.| Neck. | Body. | [ere erecta | SoeeGere ee oe = | ieee 1342 207 108 9 9 20 16 | Bureau of Science. | 1340 204 | 114 9 a} 20 16 | Do. | . Genus HOLARCHUS * Cope Coronella, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 50. Xenodon, part., SCHLEGEL, Serp. 2 (1837) 80. Simotes, parvt., DUMERIL and Bipron, Mém. Ac. Sci. 23 (1853) 472; Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 624; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 23. Simotes JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1863) 232; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 212; Borerrcrer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 107; BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 309; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 214; Casto pe ELrra, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 427. Holarchus Cope, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. 23 (1886) 488; STEJNEGER, Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 353; GrIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sei. § D 6 (1911) 259; TayLor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 13 (1918) 359. Dicraulax Cope, Am. Nat. (1893) 480. * Stejneger says: “The generic name Simotes, by which the snakes of this genus have long been designated is preoccupied by Simotes of Fischer for a group of mammals as early as 1817. It has consequently to be re- placed. Cope proposed Holarchus, in 1887, as a term for those species of the genus which have an undivided anal. It is not believed that this char- acter alone, which moreover is not always constant, is sufficient ground for a division of the genus, and as Holarchus is the name next in date after Simotes it must stand for the combined genus.” HOLARCHUS 139 “Maxillary teeth 8 to 12, posterior very strongly enlarged and compressed; mandibular teeth subequal. Head short, not dis- tinct from neck; eye rather small, with round pupil; rostral large. Body cylindrical; scales smooth or feebly keeled, in 13 to 21 rows, with or without apical pits; ventrals rounded or obtusely keeled laterally. Tail short or moderate; subcaudals in two rows.” (Boulenger.) The species of this genus are distributed through southern Asia, China, Japan, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the Philippines. Four species enter our territory. Much confusion has resulted from a study of Philippine speci- mens, particularly Holarchus ancorus, which appears to have been described from an anomalous specimen. Key to the Philippine species of Holarchus Cope. a’. Anal entire. b*. Third and fourth labials entering eye. c’. Loreal as long as deep; brown with a pink medial longitudinal line, and an indistinct lateral line; a row of dim black spots on second scale row; below bright rose. H. meyerinkii (Steindachner) (p. 139). c. Loreal longer than deep; pale brownish to lavender with 19 trans- verse dark spots; below yellow to bright pink. H. ancorus (Girard) (p. 140). b?. Fourth labial entering eye; loreal] absent; pale lavender with 22 or 23 dark blackish brown dorsal blotches; yellowish below with black Spots-Om Ventral six 22s ee H. maculatus Taylor (p. 148). a?, Anal divided; fourth labial entering eye; loreal present, little longer than wide; dark purplish brown with a dull salmon streak dorsally; 22 narrow transverse dark blotches............ H. burksi Taylor (p. 145). HOLARCHUS MEYERINKII (Steindachner) PLATE 14; PLATE 17, FIGS. 6 AND 7 Simotes meyerinkii STEINDACHNER, Sitzb. Ak. Wien (1891) 294. Holarchus meyerlinkii, TAYLOR, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 13 (1918) 360. Simotes octolineatus BOULENGER var. c., Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 224. Description of species —(From No. 188, Bureau of Science collection; collected at Papahag, Sulu Archipelago, October 14, 1917, by E. H. Taylor.) Rostral broader than deep, the portion seen from above a little more than half its distance from frontal ; internasals much smaller than prefrontals, the suture between them little less than that between prefrontals; latter broader than long, touching only posterior part of nasal; frontal much longer than wide, longer than its distance from end of snout, longer and wider than supraocular and longer than parietals; latter longer than broad, bordered by 2 temporals, and touching 140 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 1 postocular; nasal partially divided, longer than deep; a small square loreal; preocular twice as long as wide; 2 postoculars, upper nearly twice as large as lower; temporals 2 + 2, only first upper touching postoculars; 6 upper labials, third and fourth entering eye, fifth and sixth rather narrowly in contact; mental small; 7 lower labials (6 on right side), first 4 horder- ing first pair of chin shields (3 on right side) ; second pair of chin shields about half as large as first pair; scales in 17 rows; 162 ventrals, rather angulate; subcaudals, 43; eye moderate, its diameter equal to its distance from anterior part of nostril. Color in life.—Above reddish brown, with a median, salmon- pink, longitudinal stripe covering one whole scale row, and two half scale rows; each scale of median row with a darker center; laterally a dim, grayish, longitudinal stripe; on second outer row of scales a series of dark dots; a series of dim dark spots on outer edge of ventrals; head darker brown, with elongate black spots on frontal and on inner part of parietals; a black stripe runs diagonally from neck to parietal; a dark spot below eye; belly bright, immaculate, rosy pink. Measurements of Holarchus meyerinkii (Steindachner). mm. Total length 305 Snout to vent 257 Tail 48 Length of head 13 Width of head Remarks.—This species appears to be confined to the Sulu Archipelago; the only definite records are Tawitawi and Bongao Islands. These two records seem to be the only ones other than the types which are labeled Sulu Islands with no definite local- ities named. This species is separated from Holarchus octo- lineatus * on the basis of its distinctive coloration and the much smaller number of ventral and subeaudal scales. HOLARCHUS ANCORUS (Girard) PLATE 17, FIGS. 1 AND 2; PLATE 18, FIG. 3 Xenodon ancorus GIRARD, Proce. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1857) 182; U.S. Expl. Exped., Herp. (1858) 167. Simotes purpurascens GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 25: PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 684. Barbour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv. 44 (1912) 118, states: “H. Meyer- linkit (Steind.) was doubtless evolved by isolation from specimens of this species [H. octolineatus] probably derived from Borneo. HOLARCHUS 14] Simotes phenochalinus Copg, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1860) 244; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 225; BoETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 107; FiscHER, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg 2 (1885) 80; Casto pE ELrerA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 427. Simotes aphanospilus Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1860) 245; BorTTcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 107. Simotes ancoralis JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1863) 283; Icon. Gén. 11 (1865) pl. 4, fig. 2; STEINDACHNER, Novara, Rept. (1867) 61; MU.ter, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel Mus. (1883) 14. Holarchus phenochalinus GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 259. Holarchus ancorus Taytor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 13 (1918) 361. Description of species—(From No. R 429, E. H. Taylor col- lection; collected in Manila, June 15, 1915, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult male.) Rostral large, much higher than wide; portion of rostral seen above nearly equal to its distance from frontal, sharply pointed behind; internasals,small, wider than deep, their mutual suture shortest; their longest suture with pre- frontal; latter nearly twice as wide as deep, the suture between them somewhat longer than that between internasals; frontal much wider in front than behind, longer than its distance from end of snout, little longer than wide, twice the width of supra- ocular; parietals scarcely longer than wide, equal to or a little longer than frontal; nasal partially divided, the anterior part largest; loreal longer than wide; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; supraocular twice as long as wide; temporals 1 + 2; 7 upper labials, third and fourth entering eye; 7 or 8 lower labials, first 4 in contact with first pair of chin shields; mental small, wider than deep, not in contact with anterior chin shields, which are one and a half times the length of posterior; scales in 17 smooth rows with no apical pits; eye large, equal to its distance from nostril; ventrals, 163; anal single; subcaudals, 42; eye less than its distance from nostril. Color in life——Brownish lavender above with a series of eighteen large, dark, purplish spots edged with black, each extending across back to first or second row of scales; below immaculate cream yellow; subcaudals with dull brown spots; a large anchor-shaped, black-edged spot on nape of neck and another on head, the front of which forms a band that crosses head and eyes diagonally and includes fifth and sixth labials; the main branch of anchor, which runs back medially, increases in width toward neck where it bifurcates, sending a branch to each side of neck; a diagonal temporal streak present; traces of a yellowish vertebral streak visible. 142 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Measurements of Holarchus ancorus (Girard). mm. Total length 551 Snout to vent 459 Tail 92 Width of head = Length of head Variation.—There seems to be much variation in this species, as the attached table shows. The only definite localities given are on Luzon, and it is highly probable that specimens without locality marks are also from that island. The ventrals vary between 149 and 165, the subcaudals, between 34 and 43. The temporals vary equally between 1 + 2 and 2+ 2. One speci- men (No. 1554, Bureau of Science collection) has only a single labial (the third) entering the eye; however, there is an obvious fusion of the third and fourth labials. In No. 700, Bureau of Science collection, the anchor-shaped marking is disconnected on the frontal, thus following the marking in H. burksi. In all the specimens save the one described there are indications of narrow bands between the larger dark bands; they are usually represented by a few irregular dots across the body or merely by lateral dots. No variations are noted in the number of pre- oculars, postoculars, anals, or loreals. TABLE 25.—Measurements and scale counts of Holarchus ancorus (Girard). | No. ie Locality. Lenetie| Tail. vee | St - | dals. | | | mn mm, | 613 ye | Mailers. 80) onset tt dee Re ae ee eee eens | 220 | 26 | 160 | 84 1005) yee «| Renguetes so. oer eee da 280) 45 | 164] 48 162 fal Winkno win sts Ae At be Be see ee es hes es 545 85 | 165 40 | s20| 2 | Zambales....._.. 475; 65| 163| 37 | 910 | of Bataan ec ate eta sera en ore eee sige 515 85 | 163 | 42 | 1654 | Unlknowaiscnse ete saesce teases sce ceas | 498 87 | 19/43 429 | | Manila...-..----- F | 561 92) 163! 42 | Spa 1 a= Wee z 5 << i Fae Loe een le, a eae ae = No. Tabak, labials | Labials entering eye. l oe | Rest | Collection. | Pen cel 613 7 17| 142. Bureau of Science. 700 7 | 7} 242! Do. 152 7 | 1) 242) Do. | 820 7-8 17; 2+2 Do. | 910 | 1 | sets 142 Do. | | 17, 242} Do. 1554 | 6 | 17) asp Do. | 429 | 7 | 17 1:2! E. H. Taylor. HOLARCHUS 143 Remarks.—Boulenger * has placed Xenodon ancorus Girard as a questioned synonym of this species. The differences are ob- vious. In X. ancorus there are two preoculars (the lower one very small) and there are eight upper labials, the fourth and fifth entering the eye. It is highly probable that this is merely a variation from the normal, as it otherwise agrees with the normal form. In one of the specimens (No. 910, Bureau of Science collection) we have the increased number of labials on one side, and the fourth and fifth labials entering the eye. It is probably confined to the Philippines. The reference of specimens to Java is probably erroneous. The species is small, and absolutely harmless. It appears very gentle when handled. This species is not rare in Luzon. HOLARCHUS MACULATUS Taylor PLATE 15 Holarchus maculatus TAYLOR, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 13 (1918) 364, pl. 1. Description of species.—(From the type, No. 40, E. H. Taylor collection ; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, August, 1912, by E. H. Taylor.) Rostral moderate, higher than wide; portion visible above less than half its distance from rostral; suture between internasals as large as or larger than prefrontal suture; pre- frontals much larger than internasals, in contact laterally with 2 labials ; frontal hexagonal in shape, its length equal to parietals, a little longer than its distance from end of snout; parietals small, as wide as long; nasal not or at least only partially divided; nostril pierced near posterior margin; no loreal present; 2 small preoculars, upper twice as large as lower; supraocular not twice as long as wide; 2 postoculars; temporals 1-+ 2 (on left side 1+1); 7 upper labials, only fourth entering eye; labials in the following order of size: sixth, fourth, fifth, seventh, third, second, first; mental small, twice as wide as deep; 7 lower labials, 3 touching first pair of chin shields, which are larger than second pair; eye equal to its distance from nostril or minutely less; scales smooth, in 17 rows; ventrals, 164; anal single; subcaudals double, 54 in number. Color in life—Above pale lavender, with a series of twenty- three broad blackish brown dorsal spots extending laterally to ventrals; dorsally the spots are seven or eight scales wide, but narrowed laterally to a width of one or two scales; the spots are edged with narrow whitish lines; the nuchal band runs forward * Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 225. 144 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS and stops with a blunt point on frontal scale; a narrow band crosses head anteriorly and includes eyes; a dark blotch on temporals, which is connected with this band; small spots on nasals; chin yellow; on edges of half of the ventrals are small spots, which involve one or two of the body scales; on each alter- nate ventral are two larger rectangular spots; throat variously spotted with dark; ventral surface yellow; below tail yellowish with very few spots or none. Measurements of Holarchus maculatus Taylor. mm. Total length 299 Snout to vent 240 Tail 59 Length of head 14 Width of head 10.5 Variation —A second specimen taken at the same locality (No. 41, E. H. Taylor collection) is very different in the scalation of the head, but it seems to be an abnormal specimen. A small loreal is present on the right side of the head, and the two pre- oculars are fused into one, on the left side. The first lower labial on both sides is broken in two, making it appear that there is a pair of minute chin shields behind the mental. The tem- poral elements on the right side are not normal, the parietal is broken, and there are two anterior temporals. In coloration and marking it is practically identical with the type. Both this and the type specimen are from Bunawan, Agusan. I collected them from under piles of sod and trash. This form is obviously different from other Philippine species. The markings are distinctive. The loreal is absent, and only a single labial enters the eye; two preoculars are present. These characters, together with many minor differences, separate it from H. meyerinkit and H. ancorus. From H. burisi it is separ- ated by markings and coloration and the above-mentioned char- acters, save that of the single labial entering the eye, on which the two forms agree. TABLE 26.—/J/easurements and scale counts of Holarchus maculatus Taylor, eal eal : ee Volley Hegeslteeeali hee dye | See Je] 4 | | ; | 2 o10 ia S| B Ry dain | 4 Go fet all eter ee ce aa yee iB A : No. Locality. tes [as |82 Ba] g 8s AGES Collection. Ble) & | Oo /28)3-2) Oo laa} 3 | | | § ae) | %|) 3 i|es os! #1 Ss Sy 5 Ae Pl] ap |A | mA nl a = |—_ — | = | mmmm | | | | 40) Bunawan, Agusan._)299 | 59 |164 | 54 | 7 % 2 2 0 a fas 12 +3\ E. H. Taylor | | AEN hood oe awe Es) ly | 11 |.__..do _../258 | 50 fiez | 54] 7 | | | | 21! 2-0} 1) a7 {2+8\ Do. | ‘ HOLARCHUS 145 HOLARCHUS BURKSI Taylor PLATE 16. Holarchus burksi Taytor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 13 (1918) 365, pl. 2. Description of type.—(No. 200, E. H. Taylor collection; col- lected at Sumagui, Mindoro, December, 1916, by Clark Burks.) Head rather distinct from neck; rostral high, bending back over snout, pointed behind; internasals narrowed on inner side, much wider than long, the suture between them much less than pre- frontal suture; prefrontals somewhat rectangular, almost twice as wide as long; frontal shield-shaped, much longer than its distance from end of snout, equal to parietal in length, not twice as broad as supraocular but of nearly equal length; parietals as broad as long, bordered by 2 temporals; nasal undivided, the anterior portion much the higher; loreal large, longer than wide; a single elongate preocular, widely separated from frontal; 2 subequal postoculars; temporals 1 + 2; 7 upper labials, fourth alone entering eye; upper margin of labial series very much broken; 7 lower labials, 4 touching the large chin shields; second pair of chin shields about half the size of first pair; scales in 17 rows, smooth; the smallest scales are the dorsal, of angular shape; laterally, the scales are larger and rounding; ventrals, 154; anal divided; subcaudals, 32. Color in life——Above grayish brown, becoming more gray later- ally, with a median, dorsal salmon-pink streak going the length of body; body traversed by twenty saddlelike blotches which widen medially to the width of three scales and narrow greatly laterally, usually to the width of one scale; the blotches are black, inclosing a gray spot dorsally, the entire blotch edged with a narrow grayish white line, less apparent medially; between each two blotches laterally there is a series of two or three small, elon- gate, white-edged, dark spots, each smaller than a scale; neck with a forked blotch, each leg of which begins laterally at the seventh ventral and extends upward and forward where the two meet medially, some distance behind parietals, and run forward much narrowed to the middle of frontal; a dark broad line below eye, which is more or less continuous with a band crossing snout on or about the anterior level of eyes; a diagonal line beginning on second ventral runs up to parietals; a spot below nostril and another on sixth labial; two or three spots on lower labials; four ventrals on neck with spots; ventrally, an immaculate, brilliant, rosy pink, almost red toward end of body. 161465——10 146 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Measurements of Holarchus burksi Taylor. mm. Total length 381 Snout to vent 334 Tail 47 Width of head Ly Length of head 13 Remarks.—In markings this species much resembles the Phil- ippine Holarchus ancorus, but is well differentiated by having the single labial entering the eye, the undivided nasal, and the divided anal. It agrees with H. woodmasoni and H. maculatus in having a single labial entering the eye; the differences from the latter are pointed out under the discussion of that species; from the former it differs by a very much reduced number of subcaudals and ventrals and the undivided anal; the coloration also is totally different. Its closest affinity seems to be with H. beddomit, which also has an undivided nasal and a divided anal. This species differs in having. the fourth and fifth labials entering the eye. The markings and coloration are also quite different. The species is named for Mr. Clark Burks, who collected the unique specimen and presented it to me. Genus OLIGODON Boie Oligodon Bork, Isis (1827) 519; Wac LER, Syst. Amph. (1830) 191; DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 54; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 20; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 205; JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 36; Borrtcrr, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106; BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 317; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 233; Casto pe ELpra, Cat. Fauna Filipisas 1 (1895) 426. Calamaria, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 25. Homalosoma, part., JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 33. Rhynchocalamus GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1864) 491. Tripeltis COPE, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. 23 (1886) 487. Maxillary teeth, 6 to 8; the posterior somewhat enlarged and compressed; no pterygoid teeth, the palate being without teeth or with 2 or 3 on each palatine; head short and not or but slightly distinct from neck; eye small, pupil round; body cylindrical; scales in 15 or 17 rows; anal single or double: nasal single or double. This genus is closely related to Holarchus, there being no sharp dividing line between them. Oligodon is a genus with a large number of species distributed from northeastern Africa, through southern Asia, and the Malay Archipelago. Four species have been described from the Phil- ippines. OLIGODON 147 Key to the Philippine species of Oligodon Boie.* a’. Scales in 15 rows; anal entire. b*. One postocular. c’. No loreal; dark brown with a yellowish vertebral streak; below yellowish with large, rectangular, black spots; chevron-shaped bands on head. Southern Negros.... 0. modestus Giinther (p. 147). ce’. A small loreal; dark purplish brown above with yellow dots and a series of 18 large, rhomboidal, brownish yellow, black-edged spots; yellowish below. Mindanao and Balabac. 0. notospilus Gtinther (p. 148). b’. Two postoculars; loreal present; dark purplish brown above with 11 small, dark red, dark-edged rhomboidal spots along back; ventral surface rose red. Palawan............... 0. iwahigensis Griffin (p. 149). a’. Seales in 15 rows; anal divided; dark gray above, with a series of small white spots with black edges on back; orange beneath. Busuangan sree wae 0. schadenbergi Boettger (p. 151). All of these species are small and appear to be very rare, as only one or two specimens of each have been collected. OLIGODON MODESTUS Giinther PLATE 13, FIGS. 3 To 5 Oligodon modestus GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 210; Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 77; Borrtcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 238, pl. 10, fig. 8; CAsTo DE ELera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 426; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 260; Tayzor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 359. Description of species—(From Boulenger.) ‘Nasal divided; portion of rostral seen from above ag long as its distance from the frontal; suture between the internasals a little shorter than that between the preefrontals; frontal longer than its distance from the end of the snout, as long as the parietals; no loreal; one pre- and one postocular; temporals 1 + 2 or 1 + 3; six upper labials, third largest and entering the eye; three or four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are longer than the posterior. Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals 158-170; anal entire; subcaudals 41. Dark brown above, with a yellowish vertebral streak; a yellowish chevron-shaped band on the occi- put; lower parts yellowish, with quadrangular black spots.” Measurements of Oligodon modestus Giinther. mm. Total length 350 Snout to vent 295 Tail 55 *Casto de Elera lists O. sublineatus Giinther as occurring in Samar. This is probably erroneous. 148 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Remarks.—The type, collected by H. Cuming, is reported from “Philippine Islands;” the exact locality is no longer known. A specimen is recorded from southern Negros, taken by’A. Everett, Both these specimens are males. I failed to find this species in my collecting in central and northern Negros; if it occurs there, it is probably very rare. OLIGODON NOTOSPILUS Gunther PLATE 7, FIG. 2; PLATE 17, FIGS. 3 TO 5; PLATE 18, Fic. 1 Oligodon notospilus GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1873) 169, pl. 18, fig. A; BorTrcEr, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106; BoULEN- GER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus? 2 (1894) 239; CAsTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 426; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 260. Description of species.—(From No. 242, E. H. Taylor collec- tion; collected at Balabac, 1916, by C. M. Weber.) (Adult female.) Head not or but slightly distinct from neck, with snout moderately blunt; rostral high, bent over snout, portion visible above shorter than its distance from frontal; inter- nasals four-sided, narrowed medially, the sutures with pre- frontals and nasals largest, the suture with the latter slightly smaller than that with the former but much larger than the sutures with rostral; prefrontals about twice as large as inter- nasals, extending laterally to below level of middle of eye; suture between prefrontals little larger than that between internasals; sutures formed with frontal and internasals largest, subequal; frontal distinctly longer than its distance from end of snout, a little longer than wide, two to two and a half times as wide as supraocular, but little shorter than parietals; latter about as broad as long, narrowly separated from fifth labial, bordered by 2 temporals and a postparietal scale larger than body scales; nasal apparently divided; loreal small, distinctly longer than wide; a single preocular larger than loreal; supraocular elongate, about twice as long as wide, more than half the length of frontal; rather large postocular; temporals 1 + 2, set diagon- ally; 7 upper labials, third and fourth entering eye; 8 lower labials, 4 touching first pair of chin shields, which are larger than second pair; scales in 15 rows; ventrals; 139: anal single; subcaudals, 35. Color in aleohol.—Dark purplish brown above with numerous yellow spots, suggesting a reticulated pattern, and a series of eighteen median, rhomboidal, yellowish brown spots. with blackish edges; head yellowish brown with two chevron-shaped dark bands, the anterior including the eyes; the second band " OLIGODON 149 rises from fourth ventral, passes across angle of jaw, and ends in a point on frontal; behind this is a similar chevron-shaped band of yellowish brown reaching frontal; a few irregular blotches on labials and throat; belly yellowish. Measurements of Oligodon notospilus Giinther. mm. Total length 345 Snout to vent 7 292 Tail 53 Width of head 10 Length of head 13 Remarks.—This species has been known only from the type since its discovery about 1870 in Mindanao. The specimen here described agrees remarkably well with the type description. In coloration and markings it is identical with the description and the plate. The variation in the ventral count is only four; the subcaudal count is identical. In the specimen at hand the subcaudals are all divided, and there are four instead of three lower labials touching the first pair of chin shields. OLIGODON IWAHIGENSIS Griffin PLATE 18, FIG. 2 Oligodon iwahigensis GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 598; § D 6 (1911) 260. Description of species.—(From the type specimen, No. R 16, Bureau of Science collection; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, by W. Schultze.) Maxillary teeth 6, 2 teeth on each palatine; head not or scarcely distinct from neck, much narrowed on snout; rostral about as high as wide, well visible from above, pointed behind; sutures with anterior nasa] largest, the portion of rostral seen from above shorter than its distance from snout; internasals about half as large as prefrontals, their shortest sides joining, the suture between them equal or nearly equal to that between prefrontals; latter wider than deep, the suture with frontal largest, that with loreal smallest; frontal but little longer than wide, almost a regular hexagon, more than twice as wide as supraoculars and longer, its length greater than its distance from end of snout; parietals longer than frontal, in contact with 1 postocular, much narrowed behind; nostril between 2 nasals, the anterior largest, both touching first labial; loreal small, little more than half the size of preocular; 1 preocular, higher than wide; 2 postoculars, the upper largest; temporals 1-+ A the anterior in contact with the 2 postoculars; 7 upper labials, third and fourth entering 150 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS eye, sixth largest, first smallest; 7 lower labials, first 4 in contact with anterior chin shields, which are much larger than second pair; mental wider than deep, separated from first pair of chin shields; scales smooth, rounded, in 15 rows; no apical pits evident; 139 ventrals; subcaudals, 36; anal entire; tail ending in a sharp point, slender. Color.—Dark purplish brown above with eleven small, light brown, rhomboidal spots along back; lateral scales finely flecked with white dots; occasional, larger white spots present; upper surface of head gray-brown, with a chevron-shaped, brown band passing through eyes, rather dim between eyes; a second chevron-shaped, dark-brown band on neck, its point nearly con- fluent with middle of first band; behind this a similar stripe of lighter brown, wider on side than medially; a dark spot on sixth upper labial and another on fourth and fifth lower labials; two distinct spots on anterior chin shields; chin with various small spots; throat with a large blotch confluent with the chevron-shaped neck band; remainder of ventral surface uniform coral red (cream color in alcohol). The body coloration extends slightly on the ventral scales. Measurements of Oligodon twahigensis Griffin. 2 8 3 Total length 324 Snout to vent 267 Tail 57 Width of head 8.5 Length of head 12.5 Variation.—No variation in scalation is observable save that in No. R 923 the anal is divided. Both specimens have a small scale inserted between the last ventral and the anal. The coloration and marking are the same. Remarks.—I am not yet fully convinced as to the distinctness of this species from O. schadenbergi. The latter species is de- scribed as follows: “Anal divided—dark gray above with white black-edged spots,—orange below,” whereas the present species has the anal entire and is purplish brown above with small, red, black-edged spots, and rose below. However the color of the type of O. wahigensis easily fits the color scheme of 0. schadenbergi since it has been preserved in alcohol. The anal character would separate them, were it constant; but the fact that, of the two specimens of O. iwahigensis examined, one has the anal single and the other double, leads me to suspect that the two forms may be the same, and that one or the other OLIGODON 151 of the types is anomalous with respect to that character. This question will not be satisfactorily settled until the types, or a series of specimens from both type localities, can be compared. From O. notospilus it differs in coloration and markings, the former having eighteen instead of eleven spots. TABLE 27.—Measurements and scale counts of Oligodon iwahigensis Griffin. | No. Locality. Collector. Length.| Tail. eae eete as = AE Se eee Si AS mm | mm RB; l6cty pel ss=2-see se sas2 Iwahig, Palawan_-------- W.. Schultzeeeescese esse 324 | 57 R923 ty Dei ses ss tess 4 Oya se chee eA wee eS oe G. A. amb. 3224-2 22.2-.535- 330 | 60 k No. Ven- Subcau- Anale.| Scale |Postoc- Collection: | trals. | dals. rows. | ulars. Re AGsctypem ste oan | 139 36 1} 16 2 | Bureau of Science. | ee type ook eerie 142 36 2 15 2 | Do. | OLIGODON SCHADENBERGI Boettger Oligodon schadenbergi BorETTGER, Abh. Mus. Dresden 7 (1894-95) 4; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 260. Description of species.—(After the type description.) From Oligodon vertebralis Giinther, of South Borneo, it is distin- guished by a shorter, blunter head; by a frontal two and a half to three times as wide as the supraocular; by a smaller loreal; and by the internasal suture which is distinctly shorter than the prefrontal suture; the ventral counts are smaller (145-147 as against 154) and the subcaudals are fewer (39 as against 54). Head short, snout blunt; nasal large, divided; part of rostral visible above about as long as prefrontal suture; in- ternasal suture considerably shorter than prefrontal suture; frontal somewhat longer than its distance from end of snout, somewhat shorter than parietals, broadly hexangular, at least two and a half times wider than supraocular; a small trape- zoidal loreal; 1 preocular, and 2 postoculars; 7 upper labials, third and fourth entering eye; 4 lower labials touching first chin shields, which are almost twice the length of second; scales in 15 rows; ventrals, 145 to 147; anal divided; subcau- dals, 38 or 39. Color.—Above dark gray strongly contrasted with the orange- colored underside; marked as Oligodon bitorquatus Boie, with very small, black-edged spots in a netlike pattern; head yellowish brown with two broad crossbands (as in O. vertebralis Giinther) ; 152 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS a spot under nostril; edges of lower jaw and throat with larger plotches of darker; under tail brick red; sometimes with a median series of larger, white, black-edged dots. Remarks.—The types consist of two adults and a half-grown specimen from Busuanga. I failed to obtain specimens of this rare snake during my recent visit to Busuanga. Only the types are known. Genus GONYOSOMA Wagler Gonyosoma WAGLER, Icon. Amph. (1828) Nat. Syst. Amph. (1830) 184; DumMeRIL and Brpron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 213; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 122; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 298; BorrtT- GER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 110; Casto pE ELpera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 432. Coluber, part., Bore, Isis (1827) 537; BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 330; ScLATER, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 60 (1891) 289; BouLencer, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 24. Herpetodryas, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1887) i189; CANTOR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 80. Tyria FITziNGeR, Neue Class. Rept. (1843) 60. Body compressed; ventrals more than 200, slightly keeled, turning up on sides; snout subacuminate; teeth smooth, equal in length; 1 preocular, 2 postoculars; eye small, pupil round; head shields regular; head slender, distinct from neck; scales smooth or feebly keeled; scales in 23 to 27 rows; tail long; subcaudals double. The genus is not a large one and has frequently been regarded as belonging to the genus Hlaphe. This association however is not warranted. One species,* Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Boie), enters the Philippines. The snakes of this species are arboreal in habit and feed largely on small mammals and birds. Giin- ther + states that they are of fierce disposition, and that in order to strike, they raise the anterior third of the body from the eround. They are harmless to man. GONYOSOMA OXYCEPHALUM (Boie) Coluber oxycephalus Bork, Isis (1827); BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 335; ScLaTER, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 60 (1891) 239; BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 56. Gonyosoma viride WAGLER, Icon. Amph. (1828) pl. 9. Herpetodryas oxycephalus SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 189, pl. 7, figs. 8 and 9; Abbild. (1844) pl. 44, figs. 1-9; CANToR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 80. * Casto de Elera’s record of Gonyosoma frenatum Gray is very probably erroneous, as that species is confined to India. + Rept. Brit. India (1864) 294. GONYOSOMA 158 Alopecophis chalybeus Gray, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. II 4 (1849) 247. Gonyosoma oxycephalum DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 213; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 122; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 294; Pretrers, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 688; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1869) 31, pl. 1; SvroticzKa, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 39 (1870), 193; 42 (1873) 123; THEOBALD, Cat. Rept. Brit. India (1876) 189; Borttcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 110; Casto pE ELrra, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 482; BarBour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. 44 (1912) 116; Tayztor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 359. Elaphe oxycephala GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 597; § D 6 (1911) 260. Description of species—(From No. 231, Bureau of Science collection ; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, October, 1910, by C. H. Lamb.) Body slender, elongate, compressed; tail elongate, slen- der; head narrow, subacuminate, slightly distinct from neck; ros- tral about one-third broader than high, visible above, its suture with nasal nearly double that with internasals or first labials; internasals as wide as deep, their mutual suture equal to that with prefrontals, a little longer than wide, five-sided, bending low on side of head, broadly in contact with loreal and pre- ocular; frontal large, equal to its distance from rostral, about one-eighth longer than wide, in contact with preocular, much longer and wider than supraoculars; parietals longer than wide, larger than frontal, bending down on sides of head, touching only upper postoculars; nasal divided, the anterior part largest; loreal nearly three times as long as wide, touching 3 labials; pre- cular three times the size of loreal, touching 3 labials and frontal; 2 postoculars, the superior more than twice as large as the inferior; 2 anterior temporals, the lower barely in con- tact with lower preocular, the upper touching both; temporal formula, 2 + 3 -+-3; 9 upper labials, anterior ones higher than wide, sixth and seventh entering orbit, ninth and eighth largest; 13 lower labials, 5 pairs in contact with anterior chin shields, which are about three times ag large as posterior; eye small, its diameter contained in length of snout about three times; 30 scale rows on neck, 25 rows around body, smooth anteriorly but more or less distinctly keeled on latter half of body; scales sharp-pointed posteriorly, the median row not en- larged, the outer slightly so; ventrals, 246; anal divided; sub- caudals, 133, in double rows; ventrals and subcaudals slightly keeled, the edges bending up on sides, slightly notched at bend. 154 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Color in life.—Above bright yellowish to whitish green, growing more yellowish green on sides; anterior part of scales, and skin between scales, tinged with bluish slate or cream yellow; skin, when distended, shows dim diagonal bars of darker and lighter color; head olive, labials greenish, tail yellowish drab to flesh color, anterior part of scales with dim dark edge; below more yellowish than on sides, inner sutures of subcaudals edged with darker; chin, throat, and belly cream yellow; outer edges of ventrals greenish. Measurements of Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Boie). mm. Total length 1,965 Snout to vent 1,480 Tail 485 Length of head 52 Width of head Qe. Variation.—Philippine specimens examined have the follow- ing variations in scale counts: Ventrals, 240 to 253; subcau- dals, 122 to 135; upper labials, 8 to 11; and lower labials, 12 to 15. One specimen (No. 415, Bureau of Science collection) has the right inte:nasal and the two right nasals fused into a single scale. No. 327 (E. H. Taylor collection) has the head blackish with a longitudinal dark line on side of head, and with much dark color on body scales. Boulenger * gives the variation in scale counts as follows: Ventrals, 233 to 263; subcaudals, 122 to 149; 9 to 11 upper labials, 2, rarely 3, entering eye; scales in 23 to 27 rows around body. His specimen “g’? from the Philippines (exact locality unknown) has 27 scale rows. The largest specimen he lists measures 2,300 millimeters in length; the tail, 480. Remarks.—This large arboreal snake probably attains a length of 2.5 meters. It is not rare in the Philippines, but is confined largely to forested or mountainous districts. Speci- mens I have observed in a wild state were usually coiled about branches of trees. One young specimen captured was coiled under a small fallen log. In the Philippines it has been taken in Luzon (several localities), Palawan, Balabac, and Negros. It probably occurs in all of the larger islands. It is also known from Tenasserim, Malay Peninsula, Java, Borneo, and the Natuna Islands. The snake is not poisonous. “Gat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 57. | | | = + ELAPHE 155 TABLE 28.—Measurements and scale counts of Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Boie). Sex Sub- No. Locality. Collector. or Length. Tail. ; Sk cau- age rare dals. | | | mm. | mm. | | 229 | Iwahig, Palawan..........-. C.M.Weber_.... 7 1435 325 253 127 | eee ee ere a Se Ree C. H. Lamb -_.__- - 1815 460 246 133 | 281: |-.<2 fares mene ea ie eee ee eel eee dover ern 9 1965 485, 246 188 1B) [eae Glaeser pee ere eRe C. M. Weber -..-., 1630375) 240, 1385 907) “Balabat } 1,180) 265 | 221 | 100 | | | Seale rows. Labials. | HW = ———= | | | v a a _ No. | | 2 oa g Collection. | Pm Pe zs g | ad | eS a vo o co a oO 3 2 a Z Sis £ | oO iS) ie} fiz fe) ou v | Zz a a D Ss a | } { | 276 23 | 21 | 4, 5, 6 9 10 5 2}2 Bureau of Science. bh S2t 23 | 21 | 4,5, 6 | 9 1l Gy Pere2 | 278] e383) 21/4,5,6)] 9 ul 6) 242 | | 279 23| 21 | 45,6 9} 11-12 6-5 | 2+2 175 23 | 21 | 4, 5, 6 91} 11-10 Boy Ake 178 23 a1 | 4,5, 6 9 u 6) 242 | |) v9.5 23 21 | 4, 6,6 9 ll 6! 242 | age 23 | 21 | 4,5, 6 9 10 5] 242 284 | os 21 | 4,5, 6 9 | 11 | 5 | 2+2 286 | 23 21 | 4,5, 6 9 11] 6| 242! 286) 28 21 | 4,5, 6 9 va Bi 2+2 | es7| 23 21 | 4, 5, 6 of ou 5; 242 | 288 28 21 | 4, 6,6! q ul 6) 242 289 23 a1 4,5, 6 9-8 | ul 5) 242 66 23 21 | 4, 5, 6 9| oa] 6 242 | 67 23 21 | 1,5, 6 9 11 | 6| 242 | 68 28 21 | 4, 5, 6 9} 10-11 | 65) 2 69 23 4, 5,6 9 ll | Gap ee “Tip of tail missing. > Mutilated. ELAPHE 159 ELAPHE PHILIPPINA Griffin Elaphe philippina GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 597; § D6 (1911) 260. Elaphe erythrura Taytor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 13 (1918) 260. Description of species.*—(From No, 291, Bureau of Science collection ; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, February, 1909, by C. M. Weber.) Head elongate, rather slender; rostral strongly visible above; internasals a little broader than deep, bordering nostril above, forming a longer suture with anterior nasal than with posterior; prefrontals nearly three times the size of internasals, in contact with supraoculars; frontal longer than wide, scarcely as long as its distance from end of snout, as long as supraoculars, distinctly shorter than parietals; parietals much longer than broad, in contact with 2 temporals and both postoculars; 2 nasals ; loreal as long as high; a single large preocular; 2 postoculars; temporals 2 + 2, the 2 anterior in contact with sixth labial, nei- ther touching superior postocular, and only upper anterior tem- poral touching inferior postocular; 9 upper labials, fourth, fifth, and sixth entering orbit, seventh, eighth, and ninth largest; 11 lower labials, 5 touching anterior chin shields, which are broader but shorter than posterior pair; latter pair barely in contact ante- riorly, bordering labials their entire length; scales forming straight longitudinal rows, the 8 median rows keeled on anterior part of body, about 12 keeled rows on posterior part of body; scales with apical pits in 23 rows around neck, and 21 on body; scales on body rounded anteriorly and pointed behind; ventrals obtusely keeled laterally, not notched, 236; anal undivided; sub- caudals divided, 104. + Color in alcohol—Above brown with the larger part of the scales dimly dark edged, and light areas on skin between scales; anterior part of body and neck with black crossbars, inclosing yellowish spots laterally ; these become dimmer posteriorly ; about twelve can be distinguished. Head brown above; upper labials yellowish; a black spot below eye; a distinct diagonal black line from eye to mouth, reaching ninth labial; a distinct diagonal stripe from posterior temporals across angle of jaws to ventrals, reaching tenth ventral; belly and underside of tail yellowish, the vertical part of ventrals gray. * Griffin had five specimens before him, no particular one of which was designated as the type. The specimen here described is No. 17 of the type series. + Griffin gives 94, which is incorrect. 160 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Measurements of Elaphe ph ilippina Griffin. Total length 1,420 Snout to vent 1,113 Tail 307 Length of head 32 Width of head 16 Variation.—The young differ from the adults in the distinct- ness of the markings; more than 20 transverse bands are evident, but they do not extend as far back as the tail; posterior fourth of body and the tail uniform brown. The ventrals range between 223 and 242; subcaudals, between 103 and 110. : TABLE 30.—Measurements and scale counts of Elaphe philippina Griffin. F | 4 { No. Locality. Collector. Ss er ee | | | _| & | eo 8b n 4 & > n | | mm. mm, BiT4i | Balabaces. 2. oak eot eee C.M. Weber..----. @ 1,385 300 286 | 103 fy 2615: | seer AG anaes doin 9 | 1,465) 315} 288 | 108 | 290 | Iwahig, Palawan .........-----------[----+ choyntaeeeess 9 1,410 320 282 | 107 [h) Seg [ees Ela eae e commas as ssemeannen teks LOPES Re aaa 3 2 11,420. 307, 236 | 104 | 292) | TN eieRie eeeeNiI tl. T ee. 0 See RRS EN One Aa eee g 1,360 | 810) 284/ 110 | DOT neers 1 tec barb hte AEA ene tell onan Gunn Ze Bean ad| pee) tally 290 Wino opal, sD86s) 105 294 | Taytay, Palawan _.-._----...--.----- L. E. Griffin. ___-_-- fe 1,380 (a) 230, (a) | 295 | Iwahig, Palawan ....----- Corse eeena| (Cl Tam ce boas sc = 14,495! (a) | 933] () | DOT iatkad One art nt ee ata ey ee a Gorka tee @ | 1,225 276 242 | 106 ff ee fe me ce @ |) 1,160; 265! 238) 107 | Sees eer Ong ao M2222 an aes es ate ate pee Ey aloe ee 1,360 340 223 | 107 | ereeizia BM SCO terete terete oe ice ek ey Ae ae ec Se ie ene GL Gye eth eee eet of 720 (a) 236, (#) Seale rows Labials. \. = ee = ee | No. | : | : oe | : & | é E Collection. | o p08}; | ee igeel 8 Z a je | P| A jess; 6 | 511d 23 21: 4,5,6 9 rr 5 242) ELH. Taylor. | 5115 23) 2 4,6,6 9 u 6-5 242 Des | 290 23 | 21! 4,5,6 9 ilk 6 2+2 Bureau of Science. 291 23 21 4,5,6 9 ll 5 242 Do. 292 23 21| 45,6. 9 | 11 | 5B| 242 Do. 293 23 21) 4,6,6 9} ou 5 | 242 Do. 294 23] 21) 4,6,6 9 11 Bi 242 Do 295 23 21) 4,5,6 9 11 | 5! 242 Do. 297 23 21) 4,5,6 9 ul B, O49 Do. | (208), -231| 21} 4,5,6 9 11 | 5) 2+2 Do. i 23] 21) 45,6 | 9) 4! 5) 242 Do erent 23] 211 4,6,6 9) 11-12 6-6 | 242 Do. ® Mutilated. LIOPELTIS 161 Remarks.—The species differs from Elaphe erythrura Duméril and Bibron in a higher average of ventrals and subcaudals; the average for EH. philippina is about 235 for ventrals, and 106 for subcaudals; while in F. erythrura ventrals average 221 and sub- cuadals 93. The markings are distinctive, as shown by Griffin; the head is slenderer in EF. philippina. The types are from Pa- lawan. Specimens have since been taken in Busuanga, Balabac, and Bongao. The species feeds largely on birds and small mam- mals. It probably never eats reptiles or amphibians. It is absolutely harmless to man. Genus LIOPELTIS Fitzinger Coronella, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1887) 50. Herpetodryas, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 173. Liopeltis FITZINGER, Syst. Rept. (1843) 26; STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 3387. Ablabes, part., DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 304; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 27; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 223. Cyclophis, part., GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 119; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 229. Eurypholis HALLOWELL, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1860) 493 and 559; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 81. Phragmitophis GUNTHER, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. III 9 (1862) 126. Homalosoma, part., JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 33. Liopeltis, part., COPE, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1860) 559; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 81. Diadophis, part., JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 261. Ablabes BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 304; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 277. Entacanthus Cope, Rep. U. S. Nat. Mus. (1898) 780. “Maxillary teeth small, equal, 15 to 30; mandibular teeth sub- equal. Head not or scarcely distinct from neck; eye rather small or moderate, with round pupil; loreal present or absent; nasal entire or divided. Body cylindrical, usually slender; scales smooth or feebly keeled, without apical pits, in 13 to 17 rows; ventrals not angulate * laterally. Tail moderate or long; sub- caudals in two rows.” (From Boulenger’s description of Ablabes.) The snakes belonging to this genus are distributed over south- ern and eastern Asia, Japan, Malay Peninsula, and the East Indies. Two species enter the Philippines. One is the widely distributed Liopeltis tricolor (Schlegel) ; the other, Liopeltis philippinus (Boettger), is probably endemic. * Slightly angulate in certain species—E. H. T. 161465——11 162 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS The snakes are small, probably neither species attaining a length of more than two-thirds of a meter. They are probably arboreal in habit. Both species appear to be rare in the Philip- pines. They are absolutely harmless and are very gentle when handled. Key to the Philippine species of Liopeltis Fitzinger. a’. Nostril between nasal and internasal, which are completely fused in front of nostril; light brown‘above with four dark brown, longitudinal lines; yellowish below..............-..--- L. philippinus (Boettger) (p. 164). a?. Nostril in single nasal, completely separated from internasal; olive to light brown above; a black streak behind eye, and a light stripe on outer row of scales................-------+++ L. tricolor (Schlegel) (p. 162). LIOPELTIS TRICOLOR (Schlegel) PLATE 11, FIGs. 3 TO 5; PLATE 19 Herpetodryas tricolor SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 187, pl. 6, figs. 16-18. Cyclophis tricolor GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 121; Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1872) 596; StoniczKA, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 42 (1873) 122. Liopeltis tricolor Copg, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1860) 559; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1869) 31, pl. 6, fig. 2. Ablabes tricolor BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 281; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 599; § D 6 (1911) 261; Tayzor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 13 (1918) 260. Description of species —(From No. 709, Bureau of Science collection; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, March, 1909, by W. Schultze.) (Adult male.) Head elongate, depressed, its height less than three times diameter of eye; rostral broader than deep, small, well visible above, the suture with nasal largest, sutures with internasals and with first labials coequal; internasals rather triangular, pointed anteriorly, longest along their mutual suture, which is about equal to that between prefrontals, not as long as that with nasals; prefrontals rather large, broader than deep, in contact with 1 or 2 labials, nasal, and preocular, their median suture rather diagonal, leaving left prefrontal, forming a considerable suture with right internasal; frontal elongate, scarcely, if any broader than supraocular, twice as long as wide, slightly longer than its distance to end of snout; parietals elon- gate, not twice as long as wide, in contact with 2 postoculars; na- sal elongate, single, separating internasals from labials: nostril pierced in posterior part; no loreal; a single small preocular; supraoculars twice as long as wide; 2 postoculars, coequal, and nearly equal in size to preocular; temporals 1+-2, large, elongate, both upper temporals bordering parietals their entire length; 8 LIOPELTIS 163 upper labials, seventh largest, fourth and fifth entering eye; 8 lower labials, 4 touching anterior chin shields which are slightly longer than, but almost equal in size to, posterior; scales in 15 rows, smooth, without apical pits; ventrals, 149, slightly angulate laterally; subcaudals, 116; anal divided. Color in life-—Grayish to olive brown above, anterior third of body and head rather more olive; a black streak begins on rostral, passes through eye and continues along neck and sides some dis- tance, growing gradually indistinct; tail above a light reddish to pinkish brown; a pale yellowish to lavender olive streak along outer row of scales and edges of ventral; chin and belly im- maculate creamy white. Measurements of Liopeltis tricolor (Schlegel). mm. Total length 502 Snout to vent 324 Tail 178 Width of head 9 Length of head 18 TABLE 31.—Measurements and scale counts of Liopeltis tricolor (Schlegel). | | | Ven- No. | Locality. Collector. | Sex. |Length.| Tail. | trata Bae ee | | | mm. mm. | 709 | Iwahig, Palawan-.-------------.==-- | W. Schultze_____- | of 502 | 178 | 149 MD3t | eden oe mane ea ata ae eee ace Sa A | C. M. Weber-..... ae 435 16548 AI? | Waytay: “Palawans 22. e- | (eee | ; | | | 709 116 | 2 1 2 | 1+2 | 4,5 | 15 | Bureau of Science. 723 | 124 | 2 1 2} 142| 45) 15] Do. 1171 124 2 1 2 1+2 4,6 15 Do. 666 4103 2 1 2 14+2 4,5 | 15 Do. 4 Mutilated. Variation.—Practically no variation of moment is evident in the Philippine specimens; the ventrals vary from 137 to 149; the 'subcaudals, from 116 to 124. A fourth, badly mutilated specimen in my collection was taken from the stomach of a Boiga dendrophila from Palawan. I obtained a specimen of this species on the very small island of Bubuan, Tapian group, Sulu Archipelago, in October, 1917. It was taken in a low tree about 3 meters from the earth; the tip of the tail 164 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS is slightly mutilated, only 103 subcaudals showing. The ven- trals are 137, a lower number than in the Palawan specimens. Boulenger * gives the ventral range as 140 to 187; the subcau- dal, 103 to 180. LIOPELTIS PHILIPPINUS (Boettger) PLATE 20 Ablabes philippinus BortrceR, Zool. Anz. 20 (1897) 164; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 261. Description of species—(From No. 940, Bureau of Science collection; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, 1908, by C. M. Weber.) (Adult male.) Head distinctly triangular, rather flattened, quite distinct from neck; rostral almost one and a half times as wide as high, but slightly pointed behind; the suture with nasal is twice that with first labial; internasal fused with nasal to form a single scale; nostril pierced near posterior part; a su- ture issues from nostril and continues back to suture between nasal and prefrontal, partially dividing scale; the combined scale somewhat smaller than prefrontal; latter much broader than deep, in contact with 2 labials laterally and a small preocular posteriorly. (In the specimen here described the prefrontals are fused, with a slight linear depression between them, doubtless an abnormal condition.) The posterior sides are rounding; frontal elongate, twice as long as wide, pointed behind, not twice as wide as supraoculars, but longer; parietals elongate, very much longer than wide, much longer than frontal; loreal wanting; preocular small, square, widely separated from frontal; 2 postoculars, upper a little the larger, both in contact with parietal; temporals 1 + 2, very well defined; 8 upper labials, fourth and fifth entering eye, fifth and sixth touching lower post- ocular; 8 lower labials, 4 in contact with anterior pair of chin shields, which are little more than half the size of posterior pair; mental as wide as deep, triangular: scales in 15 rows, dorsals smallest, laterals largest, rather rounding behind; 140 ventrals; anal divided; subcaudals, 119. Eye less than its dis- tance from nostril; tail extremely slender near end, terminating in a sharp point; apical pits wanting. Color in aleohol.—Above grayish yellow to light brown; four longitudinal brown stripes begin on neck and continue along body; two median stripes, one and a half scale rows in width, separated by one whole and two half rows of seales; these stripes continue to end of tail: lateral stripes are separated from dorsal by two whole rows of scales and are only the width * Catalogue, loc. cit. DENDROPHIS 165 of a half scale row; these continue only to near anus; the light areas between the brown lines laterally are punctate with many small brownish dots; head olive, with an indistinct dark line behind eye, this being the origin of the lateral brown line; labials, chin, and throat immaculate; ventrals with small dots on their outer edges and a few scattered larger dots in a median row along middle part of belly; the lateral punctations on sub- caudals form an indistinct line. Measurements of Liopeltis philippinus (Boettger). mm. Total length 640 Snout to vent 390 Tail 250 Length of head 20 Width of head 10.5 Variation.—Boettger gives the ventral count as 144 to 146; the subcaudal, as 118. Remarks.—No other specimen of this rare snake is at hand for comparison. This one agrees well with the type descrip- tion. Boettger’s two types are from Samar and Culion, col- lected by Moellendorff and Koch. With so wide a distribution it is striking that so few specimens have reached collections and that it has remained undiscovered until so late a date. Genus DENDROPHIS Boie Ahetulla, part., GRAY, Ann. Phil. 10 (1825) 208. Leptophis, part., BELL, Zool. Journ. 2 (1825) 328; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 84. Dendrophis Bots, Isis (1827) 520; Borrrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 111; BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 337; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 77; CasTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 433. Dendrophis, part., WAGLER, Syst. Amph. (1830) 182; SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 220; DuMERIL and BiprRon, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 193; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 148; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 296; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 85. “Maxillary teeth 20 to 33, the posterior more or less enlarged, stouter if not longer than the rest; anterior mandibular teeth longest. Head distinct from neck, more or less elongate; eye large, with round pupil. Body elongate, more or less com- pressed; scales smooth, in 13 or 15 rows, narrow, disposed obliquely, with apical pits, those of the vertebral row more or less enlarged; ventrals with a suture-like lateral keel and a notch on each side, corresponding to the keel. Tail long; sub- caudals in two rows, keeled and notched like the ventrals.” (Boulenger.) 166 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Snakes of this genus are distributed over southeastern Asia, Malay Archipelago, to Australia. They are largely arboreal, and are harmless. Only one species, Dendrophis pictus (Gmelin), is known in the Philippines. Dendrophis punctulata, an Australian species, has been reported from the Philippines by Gtinther * and by Parenti and Picaglia + and is included in Boettger’s, £ Casto de Elera’s, § and Griffin’s || lists. Boulenger has referred Giinther’s specimen to Dendrelaphis terrificus (Peters), and I think with- out doubt that the specimen reported by Parenti and Picaglia belongs to this species also; or, if correctly identified, that it did not originate in Ticao, Philippines, as stated by Parenti and Picaglia. DENDROPHIS PICTUS (Gmelin) Coluber pictus GMELIN, Syst. Natura 1 (1788) 1116. Coluber decorus SHAW, Zool. 3 (1802) 538. Dipsas schokari, part., KuHL, Beitr. Zool. Verg. Anat. (1820) 80. Ahextulla decorus GRAY, Ann. Phil. 10 (1825) 208. Leptophis ahetulla, part., BELL, Zool. Journ. 2 (1825) 328. Dendrophis picta Bolg, Isis (1827) 530; SroticzKa, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 39 (1870) 193. Ahetulla belli Gray, Ill. Ind. Zool. 2 (1834) pl. 80. Dendrophis pictus, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 228, pl. 9, figs. 5-7; DUMERIL and BiBRoN, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 197; GIRARD, U. 8. Expl. Exp. (1858) 129; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 148; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 297; JAN, Icon. Gén. 32 (1869) pl. 1, fig. 3; THEOBALD, Cat. Rept. Brit. India (1876) 190; BoETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 111; BoULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 78; CAsTo pE EvERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 433; Barsour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv. Coll. 44 (1912) 117. Leptophis pictus CANTOR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 82. Ahextulla picta Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1860) 556. Leptophis formosus JAN, Icon. Gén. (1879) 49, pl. 6, fig. 2. Description of species—(From No. 219, E. H. Taylor collec- tion; collected in Occidental Negros, August 10, 1915, by E. H. Taylor.) Body slender; tail long and slender, somewhat com- pressed; head elongate, distinct from neck; rostral broader than high, well visible above; internasals longer than wide, their mu- tual suture about equal to their suture with prefrontal; pre- frontals larger than internasals, wider than deep, bending down over sides of head, forming a long suture with loreal, narrowly in * Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus. (1858) 150. 7 Atti. Soc. Nat. Modena, Mem. Orig. III 5 (1886) 50. { Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 111. § Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 433. | Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 259. DENDROPHIS 167 contact with supraocular (on one side only); frontal nearly triangular, rather narrowly pointed behind, longer and wider than supraocular, equal to its distance to end of snout; parietals rather short, in contact with superior postocular; nasal divided, posterior part largest; an elongate loreal, more than twice as long as high; a large preocular, widest at top, in contact with frontal (on one side); 2 postoculars, lower very small. Tem- porals 1+ 2; 11 upper labials, fourth (very narrowly), fifth, and sixth entering eye, sixth, seventh, and eighth largest; 9 lower labials, 5 in contact with first pair of chin shields, which are broader but very much shorter than second pair; second pair of chin shields separated posteriorly by 2 scales; a single large scale borders last 5 labials; scales in 15 rows, entirely smooth, with apical pits, median row largest, hexagonal; laterals narrow, elongate, broadly imbricate, outer row large, triangular ; ventrals, 180, strongly keeled and notched laterally; subcaudals, 148, keeled and notched; anal divided. Color in life-—Above yellow-green; a broad dark stripe be- gins behind eye, dimly indicated on loreal region, and continues some distance on neck, where it is broken in dark bars ‘separated by bluish diagonal bands; the blue color on scales is usually covered by the overlapping scale, and is not much in evidence until the skin is distended; the markings are not or scarcely evident past the middle of body; outer scale row yellowish; ventrals greenish yellow ventrally, greenish laterally; top of head olive; upper labials, chin, and throat yellow. Measurements of Dendrophis pictus (Gmelin). mm. Total length 1,145 Snout to vent 748 Tail 397 Length of head 26 Width of head 14 Variation.—In Philippine specimens examined the ventrals vary between 163 and 180; the subcaudals, between 139 and 166; the supralabials, between 8 and 11, and the temporals are 1+ 2or2+2. The fifth and sixth labials usually enter the eye. Boulenger * gives the range as ventrals, 165 to 190; subcaudals, 122 to 164, Remarks.—This is a common species, widely distributed in the Philippines. I have examined specimens from Luzon, Ne- * Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 79. 168 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS gros, Panay, Mindoro, Polillo, Palawan, Busuanga, Mindanao, Lapac, and Cagayan Sulu. It is also reported from Samar. Outside of the Philippines it occurs over southern Asia, Ma- lay Peninsula, Malay Archipelago to the Moluccas, and New Guinea. These snakes are usually taken in small bushes or trees. They are arboreal in habit, and feed on lizards and frogs. The species is absolutely harmless. It is confused by many Filipinos with Dryophis prasinus, the so-called dahon palay, which is re- garded by them as deadly poisonous. In Negros I have seen this species handled by schoolboys who do not fear it. It is there called maninint. TABLE 32.—Measurements and scale counts of Dendrophis pictus (Gmelin). | | | | | Sub- No. | Locality. | Collector. Age or Length. | Tail. Vent- cau- sex. | rals. dala | | | | : | mm. mm. | | | 6 | Mindanao ---- 375 | 136 | V1 | 166 | 885 | 802 | 171) 136 | agl5|) 169) (a) | | 268 169] (@) | 648 230 | 176 | 168 | 204) 98 | 910 | 326 172 | 147 760 | 264) 181] 145 840 | 0264, 170| (a) 795 | 285 V1) 151 760 | 240 163 (a) 1,145) 397; 180] 148 | | No. (Preocu-) Post- Tempo-) Scale- . Tass beatae ] nares |" rals. | Snare: Collection. Upper. | Lower. Ne | | | ees ee eee | 6 1 1 9] 10-9 5,6 | 2+2 15 | E. H. Taylor. | 109 A: 3-2 9 10 5,6 | 2+2 15 Do. 404 1 1 8 10 4,5 | 2+2 | 15 Do. ne [> SASBRG NS tees 431 1 3-2 | 9 Wh Ee 15 Do. 435 1 9 o| 5,6] 142] 15 | Do. 144 1 10 10 | 56) 2¢21 45 Do. | 1 | | 476 1 2) 79 ww) gait ate alWesece 483 1 2 9 10 | 5,6] 142 is Do 633 1 2 9 10 | 5.6 242 | Do. 651 1 2 10 9 56] 142 15 ae | ro 2 5 916 | 1453 al 2 9 10 | 5.6 | 2 2 15 Do. | \p 4,5,6 | 219 1 2 11 | 9 { Ser ih ate 15 Do. | | ® Mutilated. DENDRELAPHIS 169 Genus DENDRELAPHIS Boulenger Leptophis, part., BELL, Zool. Journ. 2 (1825) 328. Dendrophis, part., WAGLER, Syst. Araph. (1830) 182; ScHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 220; Dumérin and Bipron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 193; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 148; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 296; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 85; BOETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 111. Dendrelaphis BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 339; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 87; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 260. “Maxillary teeth 18 to 23; anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth longest. Head elongate, distinct from neck; eye large, with round pupil. Body much elongate, feebly compressed; scales smooth, in 13 or 15 rows, narrow, disposed obliquely, with apical pits, those of the vertebral row not or but very slightly enlarged; ventrals with a suture-like lateral keel and a notch on each side, corresponding to the keel. Tail long; subcaudals in two rows, keeled and notched like the ventrals.” (Bou- lenger.) The genus is distributed over southern Asia and the East Indies. There are three Philippine species. Key to the Philippine species of Dendrelaphis Boulenger. a. Ventrals,* 176 to 186; subcaudals, 105 to 113; body with numerous black stripes along entire length. Palawan and Balabac. D. caudolineatus (Gray) (p. 169). a*, Ventrals, 169 to 179; subcaudals, 103 to 112; no stripes of any kind on body. Luzon, Mindoro, Negros, and Sulu. D. modestus Boulenger (p. 172). a’, Ventrals, 162 to 186; subcaudals, 94 to 112; a black stripe behind eye; stripes wanting on anterior third of body, usually present on posterior part. Luzon, Negros, and Mindanao... D. terrificus (Peters) (p. 174). DENDRELAPHIS CAUDOLINEATUS (Gray) PLATE 21 Ahetulla caudolineata GRAY, Ill. Ind. Zool. 2 (1884) pl. 81. Leptophis caudalineatus CANTOR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 85. Dendrophis octolineata DUMERIL and Brpron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 201; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1869) 32, pl. 2, fig. 1. Dendrophis caudolineata GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 150; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 297; GUNTHER, Zool. Rec. (1870) 75; SToLiczKa, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 39 (1870) 194; 42 (1873) 128. Dendrelaphis caudolineatus BouULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 339; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 89; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 598; § D 6 (1911) 261. Description of species—(From No. 414, Bureau of Science collection; collected in Palawan.) Head moderately slender; *Counts of ventrals and subcaudals are for Philippine specimens. 7 170 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS eye large, its diameter less than length of snout; rostral broader than deep, the sutures formed with nasal and internasal sub- equal; internasals a little wider than long, distinctly shorter than prefrontals, and less than half as large; prefrontals some- what broader than long, broadly in contact with loreal; frontal about one and two-thirds times as long as broad, shorter than parietals; latter one and a half times as long as broad, touching superior postocular and 3 temporals; supraoculars large, about as broad as frontal, in contact with prefrontals; nasal divided, internasal also bordering nostril; loreal two to two and a half times as long as high; preocular large, visible above; 2 post- oculars, superior more than twice as large as inferior; 2 small anterior temporals, both in contact with lower postocular ; tem- poral formula, 2 + 2+ 2; 9 upper labials, fifth and sixth (on right side fourth, fifth, and sixth) entering eye; 10 lower labials, 5 touching anterior chin shields, which are broader and shorter than second pair; latter in contact almost two-thirds of their length; scales in 13 rows, with apical pits, median row scarcely larger than adjoining rows; ventrals, 183, strongly keeled and notched; anal divided;'subcaudals, 110, keeled and notched. Color in alcohol—Black above. each scale marked with a longitudinal bluish green mark which leaves the ground color in longitudinal lines; a black line from eye continues back along body on second and third outer scale rows, but not covering entire scales; below this stripe is a straight-edged yellow stripe, covering lower part of second and upper part of first scale rows; below this yellow stripe, covering lower part of first scale rows, is a black stripe beginning on side of neck and continuing to tip of tail; this stripe is broader than the others on body; four dorsal black stripes, the two median narrowest; these four stripes continue to tail and merge into one; tail has five stripes to near tip, and only three at tip; below on belly im- maculate greenish blue; a black median stripe on under side of tail. Measurements of Dendrelaphis caudolineatus (Gray). mm. Total length 1,115 Snout to vent 805 Tail 310 Length of head 30 Width of head 14 Diameter of eye 6 Length of snout 7.5 Variation.—Color markings are fairly stable in the speci- mens of this species taken in the Philippines. The ventrals DENDRELAPHIS 171 vary between 176 and 186; the subcaudals, between 105 and 113; sometimes 3 labials enter the orbit, sometimes 2, both conditions being frequently found in the same specimen. The temporal formula is normally 24+ 242, but many specimens have the - anterior superior temporals coalesced, leaving the formula -—~ +2. eet TABLE 33.—Measurements and scale counts of Dendrelaphis caudolineatus (Gray). —., | = | | | | Ven Sub- | No. Locality. Collector. Sex. Length.| Tail. | ie cau- | trals. | dals. | | ae | | | mm, mm, | o | 930 255 176 105 Q | 940 265 184) 11 S | 346 94 TB4e lcs ee g | 485 125 183 | 9103 oo | 715 | 181 i ¢ | gsi} 225] 185| ut Or |} 844 227 ve pe g | 10) 192) 180 | 3 750 204 182 a re) 1,115} 310 183 | 1 rer | a Es = i Sas FI aan | | Labials | | | | i —e | | | | | re- Post- | Tempo-| Scale A | No. | | | Enter ae | ee tem oculars.| rals. | rows. Collection. | Upper. Lower eye: Chin | shields. | | | | | | | | 215 | 9 10 | 5,6 | 5 | 1 2 2+2 13 | Bureau of Science. | | | | | fecal 1 218 | 9 10) 4,5,6 5 1 hte as Do 219 | 9 9 5,6 5 1 2 | 2+2+2 13 Do 1 ae} 9 10 | 4,5,6 | 5 1 Sta |) a8 Do. \ 5,6 223 9 10 { Tete h 5 1 2 | 24242 13 Do. 224 | 9 10 | 56) 6 1 2 nat \. & Do fae ret 225 | 9 10 5,6 5 1 2 gat? | 13 Do | (1+1 J | 226 9 10 5,6 5 1 2 | 2+2+2 13 Do. 227 | 9 9| 5,6 | 5 1 2 | 2+2+2 13 Do. 5,6 414 | 9 10 i aw i 5 1 2 | 24242 13 Do. | aca Wee ais eet ee 8 Extreme tip of tail missing. Boulenger * gives the range of ventrals as 171 to 188; of subcaudals, 100 to 112. Boulenger’s largest specimen meas- ures 1,520 millimeters in length. * Catalogue, loc. cit. 172 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Remarks.—This species appears to be confined to Palawan and Balabac, and possibly also enters the Calamianes, north of Palawan. Outside Philippine territory it is known in south- ern India, Malay Peninsula, and East Indies. The species is arboreal. It is harmless. DENDRELAPHIS MODESTUS Boulenger PLATE 13, FIGS. 6 AND 7 Dendrelaphis modestus BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 91, pl. 4, fig. 4; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 261; Taytor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 359. ? Dendrelaphis fuliginosus GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 55; § D 6 (1911) 261; TayLor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 359. Description of species —(From No, 184, E. H. Taylor collec- tion; collected at Isabela, Occidental Negros, at about 300 meters elevation, October 8, 1915, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult male.) Head rather slenderer than in Dendrelaphis terrificus, distinct from body; rostral three-fourths as deep as wide, form- ing subequal sutures with internasals and nasals, rather pointed behind, broadly visible from above; internasals about as broad as long, sutures with nasal curved; prefrontals large, extending down on side to level of middle of eye, much wider than deep, longer than internasals; frontal one and two-fifths times as long as broad, equal to or a little less than its distance from end of snout, longer and wider than supraocular; parietals longer than frontal, longer than wide, with a row of 8 rather enlarged occipital scales bordering temporals and _parietals posteriorly; nasal divided in subequal parts, both the same height; loreal elongate, two and a half times as long as high; preocular visible from above as a point, widely separated from frontal, widened above, coming to a point below; supraocular slightly projecting; 2 postoculars, the superior, largest, touching parietal, the inferior in contact with both anterior temporals; temporals 2 + 2 + 2, increasing greatly in size posteriorly; 9 upper labials, fifth and sixth entering eye; 10 lower labials, 5 touching anterior chin shields, which are wider and but little shorter than posterior pair; scales in 13 rows, the median row slightly enlarged and slightly differentiated from the lateral rows, but without pits; scales of other rows with pits; scales somewhat rectangular, overlapping on sides; ventrals and sub- caudals with lateral keels and notches; ventrals 169; anal double; subcaudals 107; length of eye equal to or minutely less than DENDRELAPHIS 173 its distance from nostril; vertical diameter of eye less than the horizontal. Color in life.—Rich olive brown above; head reddish to copper brown, which color continues some distance on neck; outer row of scales and half of second a slightly lighter shade of olive brown; below light bluish green with the edges of ventrals tinged with the olive brown of the outer row of scales; each scale has a bright bluish spot which is usually hidden until the skin is distended; skin between scales a purplish black; a few small, scattered, dark spots on head; the apical pits appear as minute dark spots; there is a trace of a dark line above last upper labials; the lower part of upper labials rather creamy yellow tinged with greenish; lower labials yellowish. Measurements of Dendrelaphis modestus Boulenger. mm. Total length 914 Snout to vent 660 Tail 254 Length of head 24 Width of head 10 Variation.—The species here described differs from Boulen- ger’s Dendrelaphis modestus of Ternate in having a lower aver- age of ventrals. I do not doubt that I have correctly referred the specimens to this species. Griffin’s D. fuliginosus * is undoubtedly a young discolored specimen of this species. I have three specimens, a young and two adults, from Negros. The greatest variation found in the Philippine specimens of this species occurs in one from Bubuan Island, Sulu Archipelago. An orange stripe is present in life behind the eye, continuing some distance on the neck. This stripe is formed by a wash color over the greenish ground color and disappears largely in alcohol. The eye is larger, its diameter greater than dis- tance from eye to nostril. The labials on one side are broken, leaving two loreals, two preoculars, and two suboculars, the labials not entering the orbit. Remarks.—This species in the Philippines is known to oc- cur in Palawan, Mindoro, Negros, and Sulu. The tvpe is from Ternate. * See Taylor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 359; in the state- ment “The type has a few more ventrals and subcaudals than the type of D. modestus” for a few more read a few less. 174 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS TABLE 34.—Measurements and scale counts of Dendrelaphis modestus Boulenger. a (ia —— = ee et ae = . CJ i) a | No. Locality. Collector. 8 o : & g Bl aig a|s | a] 4 a > n | mm. mm, 184 | Isabela, Negros __-.----- BAe Pay lores: Lesas op slecee oes |. ot 914 | 254] 169} 107 | yg 325 85 | 176 | 108 9 1,055 299 173 | 110 409 Marine Biological Expedition... & 710 | 226 | 178] (a) 10s (ee aoe ioe eceptee W. Schultze........---...----... ye | 326) 85] 179] 112 | 411 Palawanes2s2o222 52225222 (CiiMs Webers <2. e 8s eee c (yeas baat 103 AD: |= seeds hf Jo Parsee werd eet ely ue ep oaks ain aes 860 | 236! 176 | 106 413 | Mindoro ____-----. ------- Marine Biological Expedition -. @% | 1,051] 296} 179 112 1833 | Bubuan Island --__------- FISH se PAW OR eesnert ae el ieee 875 |b190 | 176 | beg Labials. | a See as é j aa Touch a 3 5 | Collecti No. | ‘ a > first fa 2B iS ollection. 3 | o 5 chin g ae} o | Nae zg = shields.) 2 s 3 ‘s) | 4 A | Ay | a n {et bint Sle 184 9 10} 5,6 | 5 iil) 2 13 | E. H. Taylor 210 9-10 10 5,6 | 5 1 | 2 13 Do. 326 9 | 10 5,6 | 5 1) Del 13 Do. 409 9 | 10 | 5,6 | 5 1 | 2) 13 | Bureau of Science. 4i/ 9 Ww 66) 68 1 2 | Do. | | 411 9 | 10 5,6 | 5 Ll 2 1B Do. 412 9 10 5,6. 5 1] 2] 18 Do. 418 9} 10] 56| 5 1| 2 13 | Do. 1833 98) 1) 5,6 5] 1-2] 2 13 Do. | «Tip of tail mutilated. » Body mutilated. DENDRELAPHIS TERRIFICUS (Peters) PLATES 22 AND 23 Dendrophis picta, var. B, GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 149. Dendrophis punctulata (spec. o.) GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 150. Dendrophis terrificus PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1872) 583; BoETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 111; Casto pe Exera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 433. Dendrophis philippinensis GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 78, pl. 4. Dendrelaphis terrificus BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 339; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 90; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 261. ?Dendrelaphis caeruleatus GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 55; § D 6 (1911) 261. Description of species—(From No. 83, E. H. Taylor collec- tion, collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, July 10, 1913, DENDRELAPHIS 175 by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult male.) Head very distinct from body; rostral at least one and one-third times as broad as deep, broadly visible from above, its longest suture with anterior nasal; internasals rather large, little longer than wide, the suture formed with nasals a curved line, which is longer than the suture formed with prefrontals; suture between prefrontals equal to or slightly longer than that between internasals; pre- frontal as long as or a little longer than internasal, very much wider than long, extending down to near the level of middle of eye; frontal about one and a half times as long as broad, as long as but wider than supraoculars, not as long as its dis- tance from end of snout; parietals but little longer than frontal, longer than wide; nasal divided; anterior part largest and high- est; loreal narrow, long, two and a half to three times as long as wide; 1 preocular, visible from above, not touching frontal, in contact with 3 labials below; 2 postoculars, upper largest, in contact with parietal; temporals, 2+ 2+ 2; 9 upper labials, fifth and sixth entering eye (on the left side the 2 scales are nearly fused) ; 10 lower labials (9 on one side), 5 in contact with anterior chin shields, which are much shorter and wider than posterior; mental wider than deep; scales in 13 smooth rows, overlapping, disposed obliquely, more or less rectangular (with single apical pits), arranged in oblique, vertical rows; outer row of scales very much larger than median, which is scarcely larger than adjoining rows; ventrals keeled and notched on ends; ventrals 164; anal divided; subcaudals 96, in double rows; length of eye equal to its distance from nostril; eye longer than deep. Measurements of Dendrelaphis terrificus (Peters). mm. Total length 1,045 Snout to vent 770 Tail x 275 Length of head 30 Width of head 17 Eye to tip of snout 10 Length of eye 6 Color in life—Bright greenish bronze (when scales are shed in alcohol, bluish green to blue), each scale with a concealed lower portion bright blue, only noticeable when the skin is dis- tended; scales edged for the most part with black, the skin between them also black; head somewhat darker brown above; a broad black stripe begins behind eye and continues some distance on side of neck, growing narrower; a zigzag black line borders 176 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ventrals; above this is a yellowish brown stripe, lighter than the body color, growing more indistinct as it continues along body; a zigzag line between subcaudals; a blackish area in loreal region; the black edges of the scales are more prominent on ante- rior part of body; lips and chin a greenish yellow; belly im- maculate yellow. : TABLE 35.—Measurements and scale counts of Dendrelaphis terrificus (Peters). | | a ae ey — : Ven- | Sub- No. Locality. | Collector. Sex. |Length.} Tail. tralay eaudale ple = eee | | mm. mm. | shud. sicieerars | B.H.Taylor -...-.----| @ 1,060 285 1638 | 95 fof 1,045 | 275 164 | 96 foe 765 200 162 | 94 o 830] 200) 181| 103 g 1,050} 301 171) 109 g 1,085 304 169 | 105 otra cee | M. Ligaya-..-...--...| ? 1,255 | 330; 177) 97 iden al heh kei ore ia A. Celestino......----| ¢& 840 | 225 173) 104 | Bantayan ——--------------- aoe dg eee o 1,055 | 287 186 | 106 | Labials. | No. | Touch ae Se emo ane | Collection. | Upper. | Lower. | Enter arse | lars. lars. | 5 i | : eye. chin i} | | shields. | | g| 9/111! 56| 5] 1 2\2+2+2| 18| BE. H. Taylor. | ae | ee ee ee | 2) 24242 1 Do | 81 9} 10] 5,6] 5 1 2 13) Do. 405 | 9] | 5.6 | ot ah 3 13 Bureau of Science. | 407 | 9) w} 56) 5! Dy <3 13| Do. | 44; 9] HY 88] Tf, -<32 13 Do. | 406 9 10 5,6 | 5 i 2 13 Do. | 408 | 9 | 10 5,6 | 5 | 1 2 | Lb Do. | 213 | 9, 0 5, 6 | 5 1 2 | | Do. | 214 9) 10) 6.6 | 5 | 1 2 1B} Do. | "Island north of Luzon. Variation.—There are two fairly well-defined color varia- tions evident in this species; one group represented in the Visayan Islands, Mindanao, and Polillo (Dendrophis philippin- ensis of Giinther and Dendrelaphis caeruleatus of Griffin), and the second group in Luzon and islands to the north (Dendrophis caudolineatus of Peters * non Gray and Dendrophis octo- lineatus + of Parenti and Picaglia). * Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 688. + Atti. Soc. Nat. Modena, Mem. Orig. 5 (1886) 50. PSEUDORHABDIUM 177 The former group has a broad black band behind the eye which continues ‘some distance on the neck and then disappears; the outer row of scales and the outer edges of the ventrals are black, thus forming a ragged-edged stripe; above this is a yellowish green stripe lighter than the lateral body color. The skin between scales is largely black, and many of the scales are edged with black. The latter group has the black stripe behind the eye which rontinues to some distance on the neck where it disappears, usually to reappear as a narrow black line above the lateral yellow-green line on the posterior two-thirds of the body; the dark edges of the scales form 8 longitudinal lines, most of which are very distinct, and some of them continue on tail. Due to the fact that the scale formule are practically the same in the two groups I do not believe they should be re- garded worthy of subspecific distinction. Remarks.—The species is known in the Philippines from Mindanao, Samar, Polillo, Negros, Bantayan, Banton, Siquijor, Ticao, Luzon, and Camiguin. It is an arboreal species. Out- side the Philippines it is known in Celebes. Genus PSEUDORHABDIUM Boulenger Rabdion, part., DUMERIL and Bipron, Mém. Ac. Sci. 23 (1853) 441, and Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 115; Casto DE Exera, Cat. Fauna Fili- pinas 1 (1895) 426. Pseudorabdion JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 10. Oxycalamus GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 199; BorTrTcrr, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 105; Casto DE Expra, Cat. Fauna Fili- pinas 1 (1895) 425. Rhabdion Borettcrer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106. Pseudorhabdium BOoULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 328; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 261; TAyLor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 362. Maxillary teeth, 10 to 12, subequal; anterior mandibulary teeth slightly longer than posterior; head not distinct from neck; eye small, with round pupil; nostril pierced in a minute nasal; internasals small; loreal present or absent; preocular small or absent; no anterior temporals, parietals in contact with labials; body cylindrical; scales smooth, without apical pits, in 15 rows; ventrals rounded; tail short; subcaudals in 2 rows. Key to the species of Pseudorhabdium Boulenger. a’. No loreal present. b'. Frontal longer than broad; preocular usually present; supraocular SIMD Ea Lise a sweets te mete oe apes P. longiceps (Cantor) (p. 178). 161465——12 178 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS b?. Frontal little broader than long; supraoculars smaller still; preocular usually wanting.........0...00.::..:0+- P. oxycephalum (Giinther) (p. 179). a?, Loreal present; no preocular; postocular distinct or fused with supra- OCU PAT ee er SUI en loelaal tartan P. mcnamare Taylor (p. 180). The three known species of the genus are found in the Phil- ippines. All are small, burrowing snakes, seldom attaining a length of more than 280 millimeters. Pseudorhabdium oxyce- phalum and P. mcnamarzx appear to be confined to the Philip- pines. The third species is widely distributed, being found in Malay Peninsula and other large East Indian islands. PSEUDORHABDIUM LONGICEPS (Cantor) Calamaria longiceps CANTOR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 63, pl., fig. 1. Rabdion torquatum DUMERIL and Brpron, Erp. Gen. 7 (1854) 119; Peters, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 684; CAsTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 426. Pseudorabdion torquatum JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 10, and Icon. Gen. (1865) 10, pl. 3, fig. 3. Oxycalamus longiceps GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. Ind. (1864) 199; Sto- LICZKA, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 42 (1873) 120. Pseudorhabdion longiceps BOoULENGER, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. V 16 (1885) 389. Rhabdion torquatum BoETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106. Pseudorhabdium longiceps BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 3829; GriFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 261; Bar- BouR, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv. Coll. 44 (1912) 119. Description of species—(From Boulenger, Catalogue.) “Snout rather pointed. Rostral small, as deep as broad, well visible from above; suture between the internasals one third or one fourth the length of that between the prefrontals; frontal a little longer than broad, as long as or a little shorter than its distance from the end of the snout, shorter than the parietals, more than twice as broad as the supraocular; preocular small (rarely absent); one postocular; five upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye; symphysial in contact with the anterior chin-shields; three lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are about twice as large as the posterior. Seales in 15 rows. Ventrals 129-146; anal entire: subcaudals 10-28. Tail pointed. Iridescent brown or black, with or with- out a yellowish collar; usually a yellowish vertical spot above the angle of the mouth.” Measurements of Pseudorhabdium longiceps (Cantor). mm. Total length 230 Snout to vent 195 Tail 35 PSEUDORHABDIUM 179 Remarks.—The only record for this snake in the Philippines is that of Peters, at Daraga, Luzon. Evidently it is very rare. The species is known from Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Nias, Su- matra, and Celebes. PSEUDORHABDIUM OXYCEPHALUM (Ginther) Rhabdosoma oxycephalum GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 242. Oxycalamus oxycephalus GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1878) 168 (fig.); BorTTceR, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 105; Casto DB ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 425. Pseudorhabdium oxycephalum BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 329; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 262; Taytor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 364. Description of species——Closely allied to Pseudorhabdium longiceps. Frontal a little broader than long, about half as long Fic. 14. Pseudorhabdium oxycephalum (Giinther) ; after Boulenger; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; c, head, ventral view. as parietal; supraoculars narrow, smaller still, and confluent with postocular; no separate postocular; rostral barely visible above; internasals small, about one-sixth of prefrontals; latter longer than wide, in contact with 2 labials, entering eye; inter- nasal in contact with second labial; no loreal or preocular; a large posterior temporal bordering parietals; frontal broader than long, about four or five times as wide as supraocular; 5 upper labials, third and fourth entering eye, fifth largest; 3 lower labials touching first chin shields, which are as long as but narrower than second pair; scales in 15 smooth rows, with no apical pits; anal entire; male, ventrals, 136; subcaudals, 23; female, ventrals, 152; subcaudals, 16. Color.—Uniform iridescent blackish brown. Measurements of Pseudorhabdium oxycephalum (Gtinther). mm. Total length 280 Snout to vent 260 Tail 20 180 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Remarks.—This species is known from Negros, where it was collected by A. B. Meyer. The type, collected by Cuming, is labeled “Philippines;” the exact locality is no longer known. Only a few specimens appear to be known. PSEUDORHABDIUM MCNAMAR/= Taylor Pseudorhabdium menamare TAYLOR, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 263. Description of species—(From the type, No. 196, E. H. Tay- lor collection; collected on Canlaon Volcano, Occidental Negros, December 24, 1915, at an elevation of about 900 meters, by E. H. Taylor.) Rostral small, about as wide as high, a large part visible from above; internasals moderate, five-sided, their Fic. 15. Pseudorhabdium monamarx Taylor; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; ¢, head, ventral view. sutures with nasal and prefrontal equal, forming their shortest suture with loreal; prefrontals nearly three times as large as internasals, entering eye, touching frontal, loreal, internasal, and supraocular, the longest suture with loreal, the shortest with supraocular; frontal hexagonal, a little wider than long, the sides touching supraoculars shortest, the parietal sides longest; parietals at least twice as long as wide, six-sided, in contact with fifth labial; nasal rectangular, much elongate, with nostril pierced near anterior edge close by rostral; behind this a very much enlarged, elongate loreal, in contact with second and third labials, entering eye; supraocular extending over only posterior part of eye and somewhat behind; postocular fused with supraocular; no anterior temporals; a single large posterior temporal behind fifth labial, bordering on parietal; 5 upper labials, fifth largest, in the following order of size: fifth, third, fourth, second, first; third and fourth enter eye; 5 lower PSEUDORHABDIUM 181 labials; mental ‘small, in contact with anterior chin shields, and separating first labials; 3 labials touch anterior chin shields; second pair of chin shields slightly smaller than first; eye very small; anal undivided; ventrals, 140; subcaudals, 22; scales smooth, in 15 rows. Color in life-—Above very shiny, more or less iridescent, dark blackish brown to bluish brown; about neck is a more or less distinct yellow collar (dim or almost wanting in adults), formed above by three or four small yellow spots; a cream-colored spot on fifth upper labial; below canary to yellowish cream with a dark area on outer edge of each ventral; posterior ventrals mottled, and subcaudals almost uniformly dark; occasional dark areas on middle part of ventrals. Measurements of the type of Pseudorhabdium menamare Taylor. mm, Total length 242 Snout to anus 220 Tail 22 Width of head 5.5 Width of body 5 Variation.—Males and females differ in the number of ven- trals and subcaudals, the averages being for males: ventrals, 131; subcaudals, 28; for females, ventrals, 142; subcaudals, 22. Four specimens show the postocular fused with the supraocular, and in No. 197 a preocular is present. There is some variation in the relative length and width of the frontal. In some speci- mens these are equal and in one or two the length slightly exceeds the width. The females have the underside of the tail uniformly dark, while the males have it mottled and lighter. Nos. 192, 198, 194, and 195 have the second and third lower labials fused, thus leaving only two labials touching the first chin shields. Remarks.—The species is rather common at altitudes of 800 to 900 meters on Canlaon Volcano. No specimens were taken at a higher or lower altitude. They were found under logs and rotting trash. They feed on earthworms and are in turn preyed upon by Cyclocorus lineatus, which is plentiful in the same locality. Specimens were usually found in pairs, a male and a female, in the same place. The females taken in Decem- ber contained three undeveloped eggs. The species is named for Mr. Homer McNamara, superintendent of the La Carlota Agricultural Station, who rendered able assistance in making collections on the volcano. 182 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS rai This species represents a distinct section of the genus in having a loreal present. TABLE 36.—Measurements and scale counts of Pseudorhabdium menamare Taylor. | | Sex or | No. Locality. Collector. | awe Leneth, Tia ; : | mm, | 2 1938 | ci 1380 | (sf 163 | g 217 | g 229 g 208 9 212 o 168 | 3 178 ye 86 2 242 209 No. | tai. | Ver- eau. Preocu-) Character of Collation: als. mm, | S 186 7 143 23 0 | E. H. Taylor. 187 16 134 27 0 | Do. 188 18 135 28 0 Do. 189 18 145 22 0 REIS ACR Ere ae Do. 190 20 142 21 0| Fused -__._.. ens ees Do. 191 19 141 22 0 | Distinct Do. 192 18 145 20 (iy Ee do:cece Do. 193 20 129 27 cy ee dorasuecbeane eta) Do. 194 20 180 28 0 | Pused s.r. 32 Do. 195 1 130 29 0 Distinct.. yeas Do. 196 22 140 22 Ou usedseeses2-=*. ecc-he Do. 197 20 140 28 1 | ee do Do SS S| Genus TYPHLOGEOPHIS Giinther Typhlogeophis GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 77; BOETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106; BouLENcER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 351. Typhlogeophus CASTO DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 4265. “Maxillary teeth 8, subequal; mandibular teeth subequal. Head not distinct from neck; eye concealed under the ocular shield; no supraocular; nostril pierced in a minute nasal; inter- nasals small; no loreal or preeocular ; no temporals, the parietals in contact with the labials. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, without apical pits, in 15 rows. Tail short; subcaudals in two rows.” (Boulenger.) CALAMARIA 183 This genus is known only from the Philippines. It consists of a single known species, Typhlogeophis brevis, which is known only from the type. Judging by the absence of external eyes, the species is subterrestrial in habit. TYPHLOGEOPHIS BREVIS Giinther PLATE 24, FIGS. 1 TO 4 Typhlogeophis brevis GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 77; BoETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 106; BOoULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 351; GriFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 262. Typhlogeophus brevis, CASTO DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 425. Description of species—(From Boulenger.) ‘“Snout rather pointed; rostral very small, nearly as deep as broad, just visible from above; suture between the internasals about half the length of that between the prefrontals; frontal small, as long as broad, shorter than its distance from the end of the snout, half as long as the parietals; five upper labials, fourth in contact with the ocular, fifth very large; two pairs of Ves chin-shields, anterior largest. Scales in 15 rows. ie Sie ae Ventrals 153; anal entire; subcaudals about 15. togeopnis Uniform blackish, scales and shields with whitish pois edge. Boulenger; “Total length, 330 millim.” a forse! Remarks.—Only the type specimen appears to have been collected, and the exact locality is now unknown. It was taken by A. Everett, either on Mindanao or on Dinagat. Genus CALAMARIA Boie Calamaria Borg, Ferussac, Bull. Sc. Nat. 9 (1826) 2386; Isis (1827) 519; DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 60; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 8; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 105; Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 4; Borrrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 105; BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 281; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 330; Casto pe ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 424. Calamaria, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 25; WAGLER, Syst. Amph. (1830) 191. Typhlocalamus GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1872) 595. “Maxillary teeth 8 to 11, subequal; anterior mandibular teeth a little longer than the posterior. Head not distinct from neck; eye small, with round pupil; nostril pierced in a minute nasal; 184 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS no loreal;* no internasals ; preeocular present or absent; no tem- porals, the parietals in contact with the labials. Body cylin- drical; scales smooth, without apical pits, in 13 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail short; subcaudals in two rows.” (Boulenger.) This genus is widely distributed and consists of numerous species, most of which are local and variable. The snakes are small, never or very rarely attaining half a meter in length, most of the species being less than a third of a meter in length, The species are without grooved fangs, and are harmless. Key to the Philippine species of Calamaria Boie.+ a. Mental in contact with anterior chin shields; no loreal. b'. Frontal less than twice as broad as supraocular; young, reddish white with black rings; adults, black above, barred with alternate bands of black and white below.........------- C. grayi Giinther (p. 184). b?, Frontal almost twice as broad as supraocular; rostral as deep as broad; frontal nearly as long as parietals; young, light brown above, barred with darker brown; only a few anterior bars in adults; uniform yellowish below......-....- C. bitorques Peters (p. 185). b'. Rostral as deep as broad; frontal shorter than parietals. c. Tail length in total length fourteen to twenty times, brown ahove, with several fine light streaks on each side; yellow or barred black and yellow below. C. gervaisii Duméril and Bibron (p. 186). c. Tail length in total length nine and one-half times; brown with a row of white dots on sides, on outer scale row. C. suluensis sp. nov (p. 189). b'. Rostral broader than deep; frontal shorter than parietals; brown above with longitudinal series of black dots; a yellow spot on each side of neck........2-..----------e eee C. mindorensis Boulenger (p. 190). a. Mental not in contact with anterior chin shields; no loreal. b'. Diameter of eye much more than its distance from mouth; brown above, with 2 longitudinal rows of dark spots on each side of a line of white dots.......-.-----2::eeeee C. everetti Boulenger (p. 191). b?, Diameter of eye less than half its distance from mouth; 250 ventrals; dark brown above, with the 2 outer scale rows tipped with yel- lowish; a yellow collar on neck; a pair of large pale lateral spots at base of tall........-.-2--2:--e C. mearnsi Stejneger (p. 193). a. Mental in contact with first chin shields; a loreal present; above, brown with darker dots; a dark brown nuchal collar, edged with yellow anteriorly and posteriorly; immaculate below. C. tropica sp. nov. (p. 194). CALAMARIA GRAYI Gunther Calamaria grayi GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 6; BOETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 105; BoULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. * Calamaria tropica has a loreal—E. H. T. _ + Casto de Elera lists C. vermiformis and C. temminckii. are probably erroneous. These records CALAMARIA 185 Mus. 2 (1894) 338; CasTo DE ELera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 424; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 262. Calamaria lumbricoidea, part., GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 5. Calamaria philippinica STEINDACHNER, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien 17 (1867) 514, pl. 13, figs. 4-6. Description of species—(From Boulenger.) ‘“Snout very short and broadly rounded. Rostral nearly as deep as broad, well visible from above; frontal a little longer than broad, shorter than the parietals, not twice as broad as the supraocular; one pre- and one postocular ; diameter of the eye less than its distance from the mouth; five upper labials, the four anterior subequal in size, third and fourth entering the eye; symphysial in contact with the anterior chin-shields; two pairs of chin-shields, in con- tact with each other. Scales in 13 rows. Ventrals 175-195; anal entire; subcaudals 14-24. Tail ending in a rather obtuse point. Young reddish white, with black rings; adult uniform blackish above, alternately barred black and white below. Measurements of Calamaria grayi Giinther. mm. Total length 365 Snout to vent 330 Tail 35 Remarks.—The types were collected in the Philippines by H. Cuming, 1832-1834; the exact locality is not known, and the species has not been rediscovered. CALAMARIA BITORQUES Peters Calamaria gervaisti, part., GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 4. Calamaria bitorques PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1872) 585; BorTTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 105; BoULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 338; CASTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 424; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 262. Description of species—(From No. 606, Bureau of Science collection; locality and collector unknown, probably from Lu- zon.) (Adult female.) Head not distinct from body; rostral as wide as deep, broadly visible above; internasals and loreal wanting; prefrontals very large, in contact with 2 labials and rostral, not entering eye; frontal distinctly longer than broad, little less than twice as broad as supraoculars, longer than its distance to end of snout, little shorter than parietals; latter large, as broad as long; nostril in a minute nasal; 1 small preocular; 1 small postocular touching 2 labials and parietal; no anterior temporals; a large posterior temporal bordering pa- rietal; 5 upper labials, last very large, first 4 subequal, third and fourth entering eye; mental rather large, in contact with 186 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS large anterior pair of chin shields; second pair about half as large, not separated; 5 lower labials, 3 touching first pair of chin shields; scales in 13 rows, smooth; ventrals 186; anal entire; subcaudals 18; diameter of eye equal to or slightly less than its distance from mouth; tail ending in a blunt point. Color in alcohol.*—Dull yellowish brown above with brownish bands, separated by lighter interspaces on anterior fourth of body; these bands are narrow, scarcely more than the width of one scale; the yellowish interspaces are only two or three scales wide; head with a brown spot on each parietal; below, uniform yellowish. Measurements of Calamaria bitorques Peters. mm. Total length 865 Snout to vent 343 Tail 22. Width of head 7.5 Length of head 9.8 Variation.—The females have a much larger number of ven- trals and a smaller number of subcaudals than the males. The range known is: For females, ventrals, 183 to 199; subcaudals, 13 to 18; for males, ventrals, 151 to 158; subcaudals, 18 to 21. Remarks.—This rare species is known only from Luzon. There is a single specimen in the collection of the Bureau of Science, without locality attached. Boulenger 7 lists five speci- mens from Luzon. CALAMARIA GERVAISI!I Duméril and Bibron Calamaria virgulata (non Boie) Eypoux and GERVAIS, in Guér. Mag. Zool. Cl. 3 (1837) pl. 16, figs. 7-10; Voy. Favorite, Zool 57 (1839) pl. 30, figs. 7-10. Calamaria gervaisii DUMERIL and Bripron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 76; JAN, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. 2 (1862) 8; Icon. Gén. (1865) 10, pl. 2, fig. 1; GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 77; PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 684; Muuugr, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Sammi. Basel Mus. (1883) 12; Fiscuer, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg 2 (1885) 80; Bortrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 105; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 338; GriFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. $ D6 (1911) 262. Calamaria gervaisii, part.. GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 4. * The specimen is in an indifferent state of preservation and most of the original color and markings have disappeared. + Catalogue, loc. cit. CALAMARIA 187 There are two known subspecies of Calamaria gervaisit in the Philippines.* These are Calamaria gervaisti gervaisti and Calamaria gervaisti iridescens. They may be distinguished as follows: Key to the subspecies of Calamaria gervaisii Duméril and Bibron. a, Ventrals, males, 148 to 158; females, 162 to 167; subcaudals, males, 15 to 18; females, 12 or 13; brown with 3 lateral rows of white dots, and usually 4 dorsal rows of black dots. C. g. gervaisii Duméril and Bibron (p. 187). a’. Ventrals, males, 158 to 165; females, 178 to 180; subcaudals, males, 18 or 19; females, 14; dark iridescent brown above; only a single row of white dots along side of body. C. g. iridescens Taylor (p. 188). The former subspecies is especially common in Luzon, even in the city of Manila. It is a gregarious, burrowing species. CALAMARIA GERVAISII GERVAISII Duméril and Bibron < Description of subspecies.— (From No. 941, E. H. Taylor col- lection, collected in Manila by W. Schultze.) (Adult female.) Head not distinct from body; rostral broadly visible above; pre- frontals large; no internasals; frontal longer than broad, about twice the width of supraocular, much shorter than parietals; latter in contact for more than half their length; nasal very small, a mere rim around nostril, surrounded by rostral, first labial, and prefrontal; 1 small preocular; 1 small postocular; 6 upper labials, fifth largest, third and fourth entering eye; no anterior temporals; one posterior temporal; 6 lower labials, the 3 anterior touching first chin shields which are in contact with mental; second pair of chin shields about half as large as first pair, barely in contact anteriorly. Scales in 13 smooth rows; ventrals, 162; anal single; subcaudals, 12. Tail length is con- tained in total length twenty times. Color in life-—Above, light brown with four rows of small, longitudinal, dark dots dorsally. The three outer scale rows with white dots, those on first and third rows largest and most distinct; upper and lower edges of scales of outer row very dark brown, as are also edges of ventral scales; belly yellow- orange; ventrals with numerous small dots of dark color, with posterior edges of many scales dimly edged with darker; lower * Boulenger’s variety C. may represent a distinct subspecies. -+ Kenneth, Carl, and Bettie Knust, three ardent young herpetologists, collected more than 300 specimens of C. gervaisii gervaisti about the yard of their home in Malate, Manila. t For synonymy see species. 188 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS part of upper labials yellow; chin and lower labials yellow, latter with dark dots; a dark line on underside of tail. Measurements of Calamaria gervaisti gervaistt Duméril and Bibron. mm. Total length 260 Snout to vent 247 Tail 13 Length of head 7.5 Width of head 5.5 Variation.—The chief differences in specimens are sexual. The females have longer bodies and shorter tails than the males, and a correspondingly larger number of ventrals and smaller number of subcaudals. The length of the tail in the females is contained in the total body length twenty times; in the males, fourteen times. Remarks.—The females lay from three to six eggs, which are usually three times as long as wide. The young agree very well with the adults in coloration. A very common species. Due to its gregarious habits it is known to many Filipino peoples as ahas-na-cuyog. The subspecies is restricted to the Philippines; known to occur in Luzon. CALAMARIA GERVAISII IRIDESCENS Taylor Calamaria gervaisii iridescens TaYLorR, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 360. Description of subspecies—(No. 201, E. H. Tayor collec- tion; collected on Canlaon Volcano, Occidental Negros, De- cember 23, 1915, at an elevation of about 900 meters, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult female.) Rostral a little deeper than broad, the part visible above equal to the suture between prefrontals; internasals absent; prefrontal very large, about as broad as long, touching 2 labials laterally; loreal absent; frontal much longer than its distance from end of snout, twice as wide as supraoculars, shorter than and not as wide as parietals; nostril pierced in a minute nasal, latter fan-shaped; 1 preocular, very small; supraocular scarcely twice as long as wide; 1 small postocular; 5 upper labials, last largest, third and fourth en- tering eye; an elongate posterior temporal behind fifth labial, bordering parietal; mental as deep as wide, touching chin shields; 3 labials touch first pair of chin shields, which are much larger and slightly wider than second pair; scales in 15 rows; ventrals 178, subcaudals 14; anal single; tail length 21.8 in total length. CALAMARIA 189 Color in life-—Dark, iridescent brown above, with a very indistinct series of four darker lines, each minutely powdered with a lighter color. Series of white dots begin on outer row of scales and continue regularly to base of tail. A second row of dots begins on second row of scales, but continues only a short distance. Top of head mottled with dark brown, labials almost covered with yellowish white. Lower labials and ‘scales on neck and chin yellow, with brown maculations. Ventrals barred across belly with blackish brown and canary-yellow bars; less heavy coloration in front of anus; underside of tail with a median dark line. Measurements of Calamaria gervaisii iridescens Taylor. mm. Total length 306 Snout to vent 292 Tail 14 Variation.—F ive specimens taken agree very well, save that the barring on the belly is much less distinct in very young ones. The females have more ventrals and less subcaudals than the males. Remarks.—This subspecies is common on Canlaon Volcano. Specimens were obtained from under logs. One specimen was disgorged by a captured specimen of Cyclocorus lineatus. CALAMARIA SULUENSIS sp. nov. Calamaria gervaisti TAYLOR, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 13 (1918) 260. Type—No. 1837, Bureau of Science collection; collected on Cagayan Sulu, November, 1917, by E. H. Taylor. Description of type—Rostral about as broad as deep, visible above; no internasal; prefrontals large, in contact with 2 labials laterally; frontal about one-third longer than wide, two and a half times as wide as supraocular, shorter than parietals; latter in contact for a little more than half their length, in con- tact with fifth labial; nasal a mere rim about nostril; no loreal present; 1 preocular, higher than wide; 1 postocular; no an- terior temporals; 1 posterior temporal; 6 upper labials in fol- lowing order of size: fifth, second, third, first, fourth, sixth, the third and fourth entering eye; 6 lower labials, 3 touching anterior chin shields, first pair of labials not in contact; posterior chin shields nearly three-fourths as long as anterior. Scales in 13 smooth rows; ventrals 154; anal single; subcaudals 25; tail much narrowed behind anus, its length contained in total body length nine and a half times. 190 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Color in life-——Above iridescent brown; many scales on an- terior part of body with darker spots; a row of white spots on outer row of scales; lower edge of outer scale row brown, and the same color on extreme outer edge of ventrals; a second row of white dots begins on second row of scales, but only con- tinues a very short distance; head brown with very dim dark spots; upper labials yellowish on their lower parts; lower labials with brown spots; mental and anterior parts of first chin shields dark; belly immaculate canary; underside of tail yellow with a median dark brown line. Measurements of Calamaria suluensis sp. nov. mm. Total length 266 Snout to vent 239 Tail 5 27 Length of head 8 Width of head 5 Remarks.—This species is related to Calamaria gervaisti Du- méril and Bibron, but differs from it in coloration and marking, and in having a longer tail with a higher number of subcaudals. The average number of subcaudals for C. gervaisit is about 17 for males and 13 for females. In the type of C. sulwensis, an adult female, there are 25 subcaudals, nearly double the number for females of C. gervaisii. The length of the tail of the females of C. gervaisti is contained in the total length twenty times; of the males, fourteen times. In C. sulwensis the length of the tail is contained in the total length nine and a half times; also, the head is slightly longer, and the second pair of chin shields is longer than in C. gervaisit. The type was collected under a log near one of the lakes on the small isolated island Cagayan Sulu, in the southern part of Sulu Sea. CALAMARIA MINDORENSIS Boulenger Calamaria mindorensis BOULENGER, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. VI 16 (1895) 481; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 646 (addenda) ; GRIF- FIN, Philip. Journ. Sei. § D 6 (1911) 262. Description of species—(From Boulenger, Catalogue.) ‘‘Ros- tral a little broader than deep, visible from above; frontal longer than broad, twice as broad as the supraocular, shorter than the parietals; a pree- and a postocular; diameter of the eye equal to its distance from the mouth; five upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye; symphysial in contact with the anterior chin-shields; two pairs of chin-shields in contact with each CALAMARIA 191 other. Scales in 13 rows. Ventrals 193; anal entire; sub- caudals 15. Brown above, with longitudinal series of black dots; a yellow spot on each side of the neck; a white spot on each scale of the outer row; upper lip and lower parts yellowish; a black spot at the outer end of each ventral; a black line along the middle of the tail.” Measurements of Calamaria mindorensis Boulenger. mm. Total length 240 Snout to vent 225. Tail 13 Remarks.—The type of this species, an adult female, was collected in Mindoro by A. Everett. Only the type appears to have been discovered. The new species of Calamaria herein described, Calamaria tro- pica, is from Mindoro but differs from C. mindovensis in the presence of a loreal, and a dark brown neck band followed by a yellow band; a difference of 45 ventrals is also evident. CALAMARIA EVERETTI Boulenger PLATE 24, FIGS. 5 TO 9 Calamaria everetti BOULENGER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1893) 525; Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. VI 14 (1894) 84; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 2 (1894) 340, pl. 18, figs. 1, 2; Grirrin, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 599; § D 6 (1911) 262. Description of species—(From No. 565, Bureau of Science collection; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, March, 1909, by C. M. Weber.) (Adult male.) Rostral distinctly broader than high, rather narrowly visible from above; internasals wanting; pre- frontals large, bordering labials laterally; fron- tal one and a half times as long as broad, slightly shorter than parietals, less than twice as broad as supraocular ; latter much shorter than frontal ; parietals elongate, broader than long; nostril ee ee pierced in nasal, small; no loreal present; an after — Boulenger; elongate preocular, broader inferiorly; 1 small, "** '“" "°" distinct preocular; no anterior temporals; a large posterior temporal bordering parietal; 5 upper labials, third and fourth entering eye, fifth very large; 5 lower labials, first pair meeting behind mental, 3 touching anterior chin shields; latter followed by a second, smaller, pair of chin shields, in contact with each other; scales in 13 rows, smooth; ventrals, 177; anal single; 192 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS subcaudals, 24 pairs; head rather elongate; eye rather large, its diameter much more than its distance from mouth. Color in alcohol.—Above blackish brown with irregular rows of black dots; a continuous line of white dots covering outer row of scales; edges of ventral scales black, forming a zigzag black line below the white dotted line; another black line immediately above the lateral white line on second scale row; a white line from snout along upper labials, covering them save for their upper parts; top of head lighter brown with some darker mottling, particularly on outer edge of parietals; two whitish collars, one immediately behind parietals, and the other five scales back, neither crossing entirely the dorsal surface of neck; a distinct dark spot on fifth labial and a posterior tem- poral spot; below, chin, neck, belly, and underside of tail im- maculate yellwish. Measurements of Calamaria everetti Boulenger. mm. Total length 315 Snout to vent 289 Length of head 8 Width of head 5.5 Variation.—A second specimen from the same locality agrees well in scalation. The lateral white line is very irregular, as many scales in the second row are white. Boulenger * lists three varieties of this species (only two of which are Philip- pine), as follows: A. Nape dark brown, with a yellow collar; belly unspotted. B. No collar; belly unspotted. C. No collar; a series of black dots along the middle of belly. TABLE 37.—Measurements and scale counts of Calamaria everetti Boulenger. | Collection. | | | i : 2 z : | eee a pies Se | | ] mm. | mm. | 565 Iwahig, Palawan. C. M. Weber... Zak fot 315 | 26 | 177 24 | Bureau of Science. pe 22 do Ae eee 2] C,H lamb: ..-.-3- | 3c | 295) 24) 181] 28] Do. | : dhags Sale| The first variety (A), a young specimen from Sarawak, Bor- neo, is the type. The second and third varieties (B and C) are from Palawan. The known ventral range is 144 to 184; Length | Ventrals. Subcaudals Tail. No. Locality. Collector. il | * Loc. cit. CALAMARIA 193 the subcaudal, 16 to 23; the low ventral count, 144, is from the Sarawak specimen. In the Palawan specimens the average count is 179 for ventrals. The variations in color may be due to the age of the specimens. Remarks.—Griffin * has called attention to the fact that the Bureau of Science specimens differ in color and markings from those listed by Boulenger. Larger series of specimens may show constant variations which merit specific designation for these varieties. CALAMARIA MEARNSI Stejneger Calamaria mearnsi STEJNEGER, Smith. Misc. Coll. 50 (1908) 30; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 262. Description of species —(After the type description.) Ros- tral well visible from above; frontal slightly longer than broad, more than twice as broad as supraoculars, shorter than parie- tals; 1 preocular; 1 postocular; diameter of eye less than half its distance from edge of mouth; 5 supralabials, third and fourth entering eye; 2 pairs of chin shields, in contact with each other; mental separated from chin shields by first pair of lower labials; scales in 13 rows; ventrals 251; anal entire; subcaudals 12 pairs; tip of tail rounded. Color in alcohol.—Dark brown above, each of the two outer scale rows broadly tipped with pale yellowish; parietals and pre- frontals with pale yellowish markings; a pale yellowish collar, about two scales wide; seven scale rows behind head; a pair of large pale spots on sides at base of tail; tip of tail pale, except extreme point which is dark; underside uniform pale with ends of ventrals like back; a dark brown line along middle of under- side of tail. Measuremenis of Calamaria mearnsi Stejneger. mm. Total length 270 Snout to vent 262 Tail 8 Remarks.—This species is known only from the type. It was collected in Tangob, northern Mindanao, June 10, 1906, by Maj. HK. A. Mearns. Stejneger remarks: “This species is apparently most closely allied to Calamaria everetti.and the C. pavimenta group; but differs from the latter in the number of supralabials, and from both in the much smaller eye; the large number of ventrals dis- * Loe. cit. 161465——18 194 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS tinguishes it at once not only from these Calamarians but from all other species known from the Philippines and in fact from most of the species of the genus. C. gracillina from Borneo, exceeds it in having 300 and more ventrals, but it lacks pre- ocular and has no distinct postocular. C. collaris, from Cele- bes, has from 232 to 265 ventrals but has a much larger eye, and a very different style of coloration.” CALAMARIA TROPICA sp. nov. Type.—No. 887, E. H. Taylor collection; collected on the low coastal mountains near Naujan, Mindoro, May 2, 1916, by E. H. Taylor. Description of type—(Juv.) Rostral about as high as broad, well visible above; prefrontals large, not entering eye, later- ally in contact with first and second labials, their mutual suture scarcely longer than suture with frontal; latter one and a half times as long as broad, longer than its distance from end of snout, slightly shorter than parietals, more than twice as long and twice as wide as supraoculars; parietals much longer than wide, in contact with postocular and fifth labial; nostril pierced in a minute nasal; a small triangular loreal present, touching second and third labials; a single narrow preocular; postocular a little higher than wide; no anterior temporals; 6 labials, third and fourth entering orbit, fifth largest; mental moderate, not as wide as rostral, in contact with 2 large anterior chin shields, which are nearly twice the length of second pair, second pair of chin shields forming a mutual suture nearly half their length; 5 lower labials, the 3 anterior touching first chin shields; scales in 13 smooth rows; anal single; ventrals 150; subcaudals 19; body cylindrical; tail ending in a blunt point; eye wider than its distance to mouth. Color in life-—Ividescent brown with numerous irregular dark dots; a more or less regular series of yellowish cream dots on outer row of scales, and another, less distinct, on third row; neck with a dark brown bar five scales wide, with a yellow-cream bar one or two scales wide behind it which unites with the yellow- cream ventral color; top of head same as ground color of back with numerous dots and flecks of darker: a yellow-cream irreg- ular line on prefrontal; dark color on upper head, on rostral and upper parts of labials; a very small dark area on upper anterior part of fifth labial; the yellow-cream color on sides fails to meet medially to form a collar in front of dark nuchal bar; chin and belly immaculate; a dark line crosses outer edges of ventrals; a median subeaudal dark line. BOIGA 195 Measurements of Calamaria tropica sp. nov. mm. Total length 101 Snout to vent 93 Tail 8 Remarks.—The species is based on a single specimen, the type. The presence of the loreal clearly differentiates it from all other species of Calamaria. The unique specimen was col- lected from under leaves along a forest path on the eastern Mindoro coast. SLIGHTLY POISONOUS SNAKES BOIGIN4 Hypapophyses absent in posterior part of vetebral column; nostrils lateral, not valvular; posterior maxillary teeth grooved; somewhat poisonous, but not dangerous to man. Five genera of the Boigine are known in the Philippines and are distinguished as follows: Key to the Philippine genera of the Boigine. a’. Ventral scales rounded, not keeled or notched; pupil vertically elliptic. b'. Seales with apical pits; head very distinct from neck. Boiga fitzinger (p. 195). - b*. Scales with apical pits; head not strongly distinct from neck. Psammodynastes Giinther (p. 209). a. Ventral scales strongly keeled and notched; scales with apical pits. by Pupil horizontal e260. osc eats Dryephiops Boulenger (p. 213). Oe SPU a OMA esse steed ee seg heard k svsen eden sees Chrysopelea Boie (p. 215). b*. Pupil vertically elliptic... Dryophis Dalman (p. 218). Genus BOIGA Fitzinger Hurria, part., DaupiIn, Rept. 5 (1803) 275. Boiga, part., FITZINGER, Neue Class. Rept. (1826) 29-31. Dipsas, part., Bog, Isis (1827) 548; SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 257; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 169; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 103; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 307. Dipsadomorphus FITZINGER, in Tschudi, Faun. Per., Herp. (1845) 55; Syst. Rept. (1843) 27; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 59. Macrocephalus FITZINGER, Syst. Rept. (18438) 27. Gonyodipsas FITZINGER, Syst. Rept. (1848) 27. Eudipsas FITZINGER, Syst. Rept. (1843) 27. Cephalophis FITZINGER, Syst. Rept. (1848) 27. Opetiodon DUMERIL and BiBRON, Mem. Ac. Sci. 23 (1853) 4 Gén. 7 (1854) 905; DuMmErIL, Prodr. Class. Ophid. (18538) Triglyphodon DUMERIL and Bipron, Mem. Ac. Sci. 23 (1855) 507; DUMERIL, Prodr. Class. Ophid. (1853) 111. Toxicodryas HALLOWELL, Proc. Ac. Philadelphia (1857) 60. 196 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Boiga Corr, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1860) 264; STEJNE- GER, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 15 (1902) 16; BaArsBour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv. Coll. 44 (1912) 126. Pappophis Macueay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8S. W. 2 (1877) 39. Dipsas BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 357. Liophallus Copg, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1894) 427. “Maxillary teeth 10 to 14, subequal in size, followed by two or three enlarged, grooved fangs; anterior mandibular teeth longest. Head very distinct from neck; eye moderate or large, with vertically elliptic pupil; posterior nasal more or less deeply concave. Body more or less compressed; scales smooth, more or less cblique, with apical pits, in 17 to 31 rows, the vertebral row more or less enlarged; ventrals obtusely angulate laterally. Tail moderate or long; subcaudals in two rows.” (Boulenger.) The genus is distributed through tropical Africa, southern China, Malay Archipelago, Papuasia, Australia, and Philippines. Key to the Philippine species of Boiga Fitzinger.* a’, Anterior palatine teeth but slightly enlarged. b'. Snout longer than diameter of eye; scales in 21 rows; body with numerous black and yellow bars........ B. dendrophila (Boie) (p. 197). b>. Snout as long as eye; scales in 19 rows; grayish or yellowish brown, with brown spots and crossbars, the latter extending across belly. B. angulata (Peters) (p. 204). a®, Anterior palatine teeth strongly enlarged. b'. Scales in 19 rows; brownish yellow above with black crossbars. B. philippina (Peters) (p. 206). b?. Seales in 23 to 25 rows; head large; body brownish, barred with black, or uniform fawn color without trace of markings. B. cynodon (Boie) (p. 206). These snakes are arboreal in habit and, with the exception of the first, rare. The large size of the eyes suggests their noc- turnal habits. They prey largely on warm-blooded animals, such as birds and small mammals. The body is elongate, compressed, and the neck is usually slender. Botga angulata and B. philip- pina are restricted to the Philippines; B. dendrophila and B. eynodon are widely distributed. These snakes have two or three grooved fangs in the posterior part of the maxilla. This indicates that they are equipped with poison which probably would prove deadly only to birds and small mammals. There is no record to show that they are deadly to man, and it is almost certain that they are not. * Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 446, lists B. drapeezii Boie and B. fusca Gray from the Philippines, and two unidentified species. The records of the first two are erroneous. BOIGA 197 The names Aguason and Agnasan are applied to Boiga den- drophila in the Bicol provinces. In Dapitan it is called Lilusan. Boiga cynodon is frequently confused with the young pythons by various Mindanao peoples. BOIGA DENDROPHILA (Boie) Dipsas dendrophila Bok, Isis (1827) 549; WacGLER, Icon. Amph. (1828) pl. 8; Syst. Amph. (1830) 181; ScHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837), 263; pl. 11, figs. 1-3; Abbild. (1844) 133, pl. 45, figs. 1-9; CANTOR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 76; MoTLEy and DILLwyn, Contr. Nat. Hist. Lab. (1855) 47; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858), 169; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 310; Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 78; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1871) 38, pl. 4, fig. 2. Dipsas (Dipsas) dendrophila FiscuEer, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg 2 (1885) 81; BorrtcrrR, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 113. Triglyphodon dendrophilum DUMERIL and Bripron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1086. Triglyphodon gemmicinctum DUMERIL and B1BRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1091. Boiga dendrophila Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia (1860) 264; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 5 (1910) 214; § D 6 (1911) 263; BARBOUR, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv. Coll. 44 (1912) 125 Dipsas (Triglyphodon) gemmicincta PeTeRS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861), 688. Dipsadomorphus dendrophilus (and varieties) BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 70 and 71. This widely distributed species, which occurs from the Malay Peninsula throughout the East Indian Archipelago, goes through a large number of variations, several of which merit subspecific designation. Boulenger lists seven varieties in his Catalogue; namely, dendrophiia Boie, melanotus Bleeker, annectens Bou- lenger, regularis Boulenger, multicinctus Boulenger, gemmicinc- tus Duméril and Bibron, and latifasciatus Boulenger. Of these varieties only dendrophila multicincta Boulenger and dendrophila latifasciata Boulenger occur in the Philippines; the former appear to be confined to Palawan, the latter to Mindanao and Samar. A third form, occurring in Luzon and Samar(?), differs very markedly from B. dendrophila latifasciata and prob- ably a little less so from the Palawan form. I propose to give this the subspecific designation B. dendrophila divergens subsp. nov. Key to the Philippine subspecies of Boiga dendrophila (Bote). a. 50 to 58 broad, greenish yellow bands about body and tail; ground color dark black, each scale in the yellow bands edged with black; ventrals, 207 to 222; subcaudals, 93 to 101. Mindanao and Samar. B. d. latifasciata (Boulenger) (p. 198). 198 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS a’. 90 to 110 narrow, yellow bars on body and tail; ground color dark black; ventrals, 220 to 240; subcaudals, 105 to 115. B. d. multicincta (Boulenger) (p. 200). a’. 81 to 97 narrow, grayish white bars; ground color dull black washed with gray; young, brownish with a yellow line defining the temporal region. Ventrals, 219 to 228; subcaudals, 80 to 87. Luzon, Samar, PG [ill Geese cetera sake tea oes B. d. divergens subsp. nov. (p. 201). BOIGA DENDROPHILA LATIFASCIATA (Boulenger) Dipsadomorphus dendrophilus var. latifasciatus BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 71. Description of subspecies —(From No. 18, E. H. Taylor collec- tion; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, October 10, 1912, by E. H. Taylor.) (Adult male.) Head short and blunt, much widened in parietal region, very distinct from neck; rostral somewhat wider than deep, barely visible from above, its sutures with internasals and nasals subequal; internasals broader than long, not touching loreal, little shorter than prefrontals; latter broader than long, in contact with loreal and nasal, forming their smallest sutures with the former; frontal seven-eighths as wide as long, broader than supraoculars but of equal length, as long as or a little longer than its distance from end of snout, its anterior suture a continuous straight line; parietals large, much longer than wide, their width equaling length of frontal; a slightly enlarged transverse row of scales bordering labials, temporals, and parietals posteriorly; nostril large, between 2 nasals; loreal small, triangular, longer than wide, not entering eye; preocular large, widely separated from frontal, visible from above; supraccular little longer than wide; 2 postoculars, inferior largest; temporals 2 + 3 (on the right side the lower is crowded back somewhat, and only 1 temporal touches post- oculars) ; 8 upper labials, third, fourth, and fifth entering eye; seventh largest; sixth on right side is broken horizontally; men- tal twice as wide as deep; 10 lower labials, 4 in contact with anterior chin shields which are much longer and broader than second pair; a small, third pair of chin shields: eye large, its diameter equal to its distance from anterior border of nostril: ventrals, 210; anal single; subcaudals, 98 pairs; body much com- pressed. Color in life.—Coal black above with 60 greenish yellow bands around body, each yellow scale bordered with black; the bands crossing belly usually the width of three ventrals: about 16 of these bands belong to tail and do not extend entirely across ventral surface; on posterior part of body they do not cross entirely; first 24 ventrals on neck yellow, narrowly edged with BOIGA 199 black; upper and lower labials and scales under head yellow edged with black. Top of head black; 1 or 2 yellow spots on parietals, and posterior to and in front of eye are other spots of yellow. Measurements of Boiga dendrophila latifasciata (Boulenger). mm. Total length 1,215 Snout to vent 962 Tail 253 Width of head 23 Length of head | 31 Variation—The known range of ventrals in this subspecies is 207 to 222; of subcaudals, 93 to 101. In three specimens the loreal is absent; in no case is the loreal found entering eye. This subspecies usually has 3 pairs of chin shields. Only one TABLE 38.—Measurements and scale counts of Boiga dendrophila lats- fasciata (Boulenger). | g | |. lal | eae ere la} No. | Locality. Collector. B | 3 hs 5 es o by * Pp i) | | S$, 8/3/58 | 3) 8 | a | Spe og | me | mm. mm, | F | 1,215} 258 | 210! 98] 1 @ | vs} 137} 207] 98) 1 é 1,020 | 217 | aij 97) 1 ce) 960 | 206, 218! 101; 1 ye 660 | 125| 213| 101| 1 eae Qe Neos a joeeeee 210, 94 1 | 1727 | Bunawan, Agusan __-_- .---| E. H. Taylor__--| yg eas | esanee |esseeseeeces 1 | i} 1 4 << a es eee = = . ar ——— = = = 7 a ee Gi : e OU re el ae ce age ee ee | = Pa) na n | No. ‘a Bo lee Ga cae | oa Tae ea a pe Collection. - 9 a} as] sy ee § | gz | @ A 3 ee el 9 PENDS sf = eee u HO Be tee et | ir] u ° 5 Chee (c) or o | $ oO) & } my a Aja, ei) a = | a | Pairs. | | | ' 18 3 1 2 2] 34,5! 10 1 0 | 2438 | 21 | BE. H. Taylor. | | fy S251) bei 1 2 8) 34,5) 10 1 0} 248) 2 Do | 20 3 1 2 8 | 34,5 | 10-11 1 o|2+3) 21 Do. | 21; 81 24 2) 985346; go] of 00/248), 21 Do. 22 | 2} 1| 2] 8/845] 10] 1) of2+3] 2 Do. | ie aren ees 1 2 8/345) 10 0 0 | 2+38 | 21 | Santo Tomas. | 1727 | 3 1 2 8 | 3,4,5 | 11 0 0 | 2+3! 21] Bureau of Science. | [eet eee ee el j specimen, the one described, shows the tendency of the sixth and seventh upper labials to break; in the other subspecies this tendency is very pronounced. Remarks.—This subspecies is common at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao. A number of specimens taken were lost, and many 200 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS seen were not taken. The snake was always found in low brush and trees, invariably away from the ground. It makes no or very little effort to fight. One specimen taken had just eaten a bat. This subspecies is probably confined to Mindanao and the near-by islands. Samar apparently has two forms of the species. Boettger reports a specimen of Boiga dendrophila latifasciata from there, and there is a specimen of B. dendro- phila divergens in the Santo Tomés Museum presumably from Samar. BOIGA DENDROPHILA MULTICINCTA (Boulenger) PLATE 25; PLATE 26, FIGS. 4 TO 6 Dipsadomorphus dendrophilus var. multicinctus BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 71. Boiga dendrophila multicincta BarsourR, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. 44 (1912) 125. Description of subspecies.—Similar to Boiga dendrophila lati- fasciata, but with a higher number of ventrals and subcaudals; ventrals vary between 220 and 240, the average being 231; sub- caudals vary between 105 and 115, the average being 111; there are 11 instead of 10 lower labials; there is a decided tendency for the seventh labial to break horizontally, thus in eight of the thirteen specimens examined this division has occurred; there are only 2 pairs of chin shields present, and the number of labials touching the first pair is 4 or 5. One specimen has the loreal entering the eye below the preocular.* The temporal elements frequently assume the position represented by the for- mule : 43. Color.—Body above black with a large series of narrow yel- lowish to yellowish white bars on body and tail; the number of bars varies from 93 to 111, the average being 106; these light bars are seldom more than 1 scale wide. Measurements of Boiga dendrophila multicincta (Boulenger), No. 906, Bureau of Science collection. mm. Total length 1,160 Snout to vent 900 Tail 260 Remarks.—This subspecies is common in Palawan and in Ba- labac; I obtained the specimens in my own collection from the latter locality. These do not differ from those found on the Palawan mainland. * rar . - rae } } << i i+] Boulenger records this same anomaly on a specimen in the British Museum, op. cit. 70. BOIGA 201 TABLE 39.—Measurements and scale counts of Boiga dendrophila multi- cincta (Boulenger). . a e 3 3 | @ 3|a @| 8 No. Locality. Collector. = . 8 a “a 5 ¢| g¢/e/8)8) 2/48) 2! n a a | Pla; a} oo} a | —|—|——}-- | mm. |mm. prs. | 7 | Iwahig, Palawan ---__- W. Schultze -___-----. 2 | 1,360 | 290 | 228 | 105 1 24) Al | BGS; MOR Adon C. M. Weber.....-.--- 2 | 1,410 | 325 | 231} 113) 1] 2) 1 | 280 | 220/113; 1] 2] 1 | 250} 237) 118} 1] 2] 1 | 215 | 237) 113] 1} 2) 1 | 260 | 229) 113; 1) 2] 1 | 250 | 229! 113] 1] 2/ 1 | 295 | 240] 106] 1 2 | i | 290 | 231/111) 1 2 1 | 146 | 238} 115) 1] 2) 1 | 300:( 221) 4125] |, esp a =P nes! =a ioey [eee = ‘ fa} aQ | na i War gare eee S| ¢ |g] | a} oa) 81 4/22] ei8s| B] Ee) 4 No. 3 fon Mea) pe | 2a) 2) o> 5 a > Collection. | 8] 8 Su | S65 | ‘3 g$|/s?) 2 o| 6 S53. = i ae ee lS fen Ree] éj2 | a” | 6 |e8/ 8/8 | & | 8] i 4 4 ey. ar oe Th | \f2 7 2 8} 3,4,5 11 1 | No Ha 3 lo 104 | Bureau of Science. 568] 2] 8) 3.45] mj] 5] 1{|No| 243] 21] 103 Do. 656) 2] 8] 3,45|/1011} 4] 1 No oe } 21 | 104 Do. 676) 2) 8 5 e | 345/ uu] 5) 1] No iS | 21} 11 Do. | | 701 2) 8/845) ml! 4| 1) No (G 3} a1! 100 Do. 906 | 2 8 34,5] 10-11] 4|/ 1]No! 243] 21] a1 Do. Si 2 | 8 | 3,4,5 11 ce Ay Not 28°) OF | a6 Do f 34,5 |) va 918| 21/89 46.6 fia] 6) 2 No | 3+3] 21] 41 Do. | | \ { g9| 2}8-9) 345 }arn] 5. 1| No (743 |} 21 109 Do. 1367] 2) 8| 3,45 u | 1| Yes | 243) 21! 110 Do | 13382 | | 34,5 11} 5] 1/No. 2438] 21! 93 Do. i | | | BOIGA DENDROPHILA DIVERGENS subsp. nov. Type.—No. 186, E. H. Taylor collection; collected on Mount Maquiling, Laguna, Luzon, November 12, 1913, by E. H. Taylor. Description of type—Head large, blunt, double the width of neck; rostral a little wider than high, forming its smallest sutures with first labials; internasals rather small, about half as large as prefrontals; latter forming their smallest suture with loreal, their longest with frontal, their mutual suture deep ; frontal with anterior suture forming a straight line, sides round- 202 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ing instead of angular; wider than supraocular and about the same length; parietals large, longer than wide, very much larger than frontal, in contact laterally with one temporal and upper postocular; supraoculars much wider behind than anteriorly, broadly in contact with prefrontals; nasal divided, the anterior part quadrangular, lower than posterior ; nostril large; loreal small, narrowly entering eye below preocular, touching 2 labials; preocular higher than wide; eye large, equal to its distance from middle of nostril; 2 postoculars, upper slightly the larger; tem- porals, 2 + 2; 8 upper labials, third, fourth, and fifth broadly entering orbit; labials in the following order of size; seventh, sixth, eighth, fifth, third, fourth, second, first; mental small, as wide as rostral; 10 lower labials, 5 touching anterior chin shields, - which are double the size of second pair; third pair of chin shields small; mental groove very deep; scales in 21 rows around body; ventrals, 228; anal single; subcaudals, 80 pairs. -Color in life-——Above bluish, the larger part of the scales with a wash of light gray-ultramarine, more pronounced on pos- terior part of body; back with 63 narrow, bluish white, trans- verse bands extending to edge of ventrals where they widen slightly and are more yellowish in color on belly; tail with 16 bands; yellowish dots on supraoculars and prefrontals; a row of bluish white dots outlines the posterior temporal region; upper and lower labials each with a large yellowish white area enclosed with black, except on border of mouth; lateral head scales with light spots; anterior ventrals and chin scales yellow- ish edged with black. Measurements of Boiga dendrophila divergens subsp. nov. mm. Total length 1,370 Snout to vent 1,114 Tail 256 Width of head 21 Length of head 35 Variation.—Two specimens in the Bureau of Science collection from Polillo* show the following variations from the type: The loreal in both specimens is smaller and does not enter eye; the temporal formula of one is 2+ 3 and ‘ +3 and of the other, 2 + 3; in one specimen there are four labials touching the first chin shields, in the other (a young one) five; the ground color is brown, darker on anterior part of body; the transverse * Griffin, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 5 (1910) 214. BOIGA 203 bars are yellowish white and encircle body on anterior part; belly grayish brown; there are yellow spots on all the head scales. except frontal, those in front of eye prominent; a line begins -on eye and runs along edge of parietal and around temporal region to labials; two small posterior branches run a short dis- tance on neck. There is a specimen in the Santo Tomas Mu- seum, presumably from Samar. Remarks.—This subspecies is probably more closely related to the Palawan Boiga dendrophila multicincta than to the Min- danao B. dendrophila latifasciata. The number of ventrals varies between 219 and 228; of subcaudals, between 80 and 87; the ventrals average 223, 8 less than in B. dendrophila multi- cincta, and the subcaudals average 83, which is 28 less than in B. dendrophila multicincta; 10 is the usual number of lower labials. None of the specimens examined shows the seventh labial broken. . The difference in color, the markings in the temporal region, and the smaller number of subcaudals suffice to distinguish this form from the other two Philippine subspecies. TABLE 40.—Measurements and scale counts of Boiga dendrophila divergens subsp. nov. (oe al ( ; i . a ' | & | 3 a | os | No. Locality. Collector. u s 3 } 2 3 =o i 2 bo : = 9 = ro) $e | Bee eae eh ee ees | n 4H a > n < Ay Hy mm, mm. 186 | Laguna__-_-.______- E.H. Taylor ___| ? 1,370 | 256] 228 80 1 1| Yes 805 | Polillo -___ -| C. Canonizado__| & 1,128 | 2140 | 223] 2847 1 1} No. 806 | -2- Owes Sete ee 2 (2 Ko ee a ye 375 14 | 223 87 2 1} No meee ces Samar ecexscct see eset aera iO lesan ser den etal 209) aBd 1 1| Yes eeeaeet Mares ee Gee | Eoeae eos lr 219 | ce) i 1| No | Labials. | | | | era ee ee ae il) <2 No. | | 2 | 6a | 3 BE | a | Collection. | a ge Ht) Fe 3 8 z Bl oe ea) ee a | EB ee = ein g Sy 4 | =) | 4H | B | & | & a | Ee | | | ae | eee - 7 red oanaee na a oe a pany = ay 186] 8) 10 | 34,5 5) 242] 21) 79) B. H. Taylor. 805 | 8 10 3,4,5 | 4 | 243 | 21 | a 83 | Bureau of Science. 2+3 | (806; 8] 10] 345) 5 1 21} 98) Do. Il 243 | | | all th |lede | | | F |enn-eo se | | io |[ 245 | 4} 2+8 21| 98 | Santo Tomas eee 8 | 10} 3,4,5 | 6] 248 | a1) 86 Do. * Tail mutilated. 204 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BOIGA ANGULATA (Peters) PLATE 26, FIGS. 1 To 3; PLATE 27 Dipsas (Dipsadomorphus) angulata PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 688; BorTTcER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 113; (1892) XLIX. Dipsas (Eudipsas) guiraonis * STEINDACHNER, Novara, Rept. (1867) 75, pl. 3, figs. 9, 10; Borrrcrr, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 118; F. MUuuer, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel Mus. (1883) 18; FiscHer, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg 2 (1885) 81. Dipsadomorphus angulatus BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 75. Boiga angulata GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 5 (1910) 2138; § D6 (1911) 263; Tayzor, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 12 (1917) 366. Description of species —(From No. 271, Bureau of Science collection; collected on Mount Marapara, Occidental Negros, September, 1909, elevation, 715 meters, by F. W. Foxworthy.) (Adult male.) Head short, rather thick, but little longer than wide; supraocular region prominent; diameter of eye minutely shorter than its distance from end of snout; rostral distinctly broader than high, scarcely visible from above, forming its longest suture with nasal; internasals small, their surface round- ing, truncate anteriorly, broader than long; prefrontals broader than long, with a distinct depression at posterior end of their common suture; frontal as long as wide, slightly shorter than its distance from end of snout, a little wider than supraoculars, not in contact with preocular, its anterior suture forming a straight line; parietals slightly longer than broad, a little longer than frontal, in contact with 1 postocular, their edges irregular; nasal large, followed by a very small loreal, higher than wide; 1 preocular, elongate, wider at top than bottom; 2 postoculars, upper largest; temporals 2 -+ 2, the upper anterior touching both postoculars; 8 upper labials, third, fourth, and fifth entering eye; mental as wide as rostral, very short; 10 lower labials, 5 touching first chin shields, which are much longer and wider than posterior pair; scales in 19 rows, smooth, distinctly an- gular on body, with the median row enlarged; median laterals very small; scales on neck much elongate, narrow, and pointed; ventrals, 267; anal single; subeaudals, 152; body very slender, compressed; neck very long, extremely narrow, less than one- third the width of head. Color in aleohol_—Above a light yellow brown, with a large series of dim, darker brown, transverse bands or blotches which widen laterally and are discernible on belly; a series of large lighter spots along ae of ventrals; belly strongly marked with cE flow Doulenses in contin tiie a synonym of ce hintaan BOIGA 205 darker, elongate, brown spots, arranged in two broken lines on ventrals; head brownish flecked with darker; upper labials light, throat and chin muddy white. Measurements of Boiga angulata (Peters). mm, Length 1,477 Snout to vent 1,107 Tail 370 Length of head 18 Width of head 15 Variation.—A second specimen from Polillo * is at hand. It agrees very well in scalation with the one described. The bars on body and the ground color above are darker; below there are fewer dark spots, and no traces of the dark line noted in the described specimen. The frontal in the second specimen is as long as or a little longer than its distance from end of snout. The known ventral range of the species is from 254 to 267; subcaudal TABLE 41.—Measurements and scale counts of Boiga angulata (Peters). on ae a metas Fe | | ai | | a 3 i | : g/g ci | No. Locality. Collector. < ham er : el ‘ & ‘ = eames} my o | as eae ec eee) eae 7 | | a | > | a < i) = a see = =i == | n | < 4 | 2 | | | mam, /mm. | | | 253 | foi Palawan_____________---_-- | C. M. Weber ----- 1,160 | 450 211 | 192 2 3 | 255] ¢ : a eee | a18| 202! 2) 9 | o56| (1440! s1o| 219/ 19) 2) 3 | 257] ¢ | 1,400} 512} 211 | v7! 2) 34 | | 258] o foe) eee | 223.| a9) 2] 8 263 | 1,410) 500} 222] 177| 2] 3 267 | 9 ol Sea | a9} i) 2 8 268 | é os | 340 209! 192) 2. 3 | 22) 3 fT ON CG EE Teariy ia oad eae aol eee peso leone | 9! 3 [222] eae dO: occ ceseesessensccvaa| We Schultze... 70 | 300) 215/ 191) 2) 4 | 275 | fol 21 GIs Webern ante. Lone Soe saece ai eaeenle has oy 2 3 | 245 Orrin dome eye emer j-----do | 1,316 | 485 | 213} 174; 2) 2 Sie aes i Si acca ice | eee ae eae Freee ace een a ae ee , 3 3 | 5 5 | 4 a | 3 | e ai | Collection. PA Re eg | eee ae Ba Ih Poe seed dla St Ve He) aoe | Sasa meas paper (as lh aa | aa | 253 =| 2°) 9 | 9 4,5,6 | 24+343 15 | Yes Bureau of Science. | 255 1 2| 9) 9| Pea uel 15 | Yes | Do. | 28] 3] 2] 910] 9 ee Netets|) 15] Yes| Do 2 | Ey |B) s-9| 45,6) 21243] i5/Yes| Do. | 258 1| 2 ee 4,5,6 | 2438483) 15 | Yes | Do. | 23! 1 21 9) 9 45,6 | 24243 | 1 | Yes Do 267; 1 2 | 9 | 9 | 4,5,6) 24343) 15) Yes Do | 268 1 2 9 9! 4.5,6l2+344] 15] Yes | Do yee 1| 2 | 9; 9! a56|24348| 15) Yes Do | 27: Tel ga) 9) 45,6} 24343] 15) Yes | Do 1 2) 9 9/ 4,56) 24343) 15] Yes Do | ony 2 8; 9] 4,5,6,2+2+4) 15| Yes Do DRYOPHIS 221 This species in the Philippines is probably confined to Pala- wan and the near-by islands; outside the Philippines it is known in southern Asia and the Malay Archipelago. DRYOPHIS GRISEUS sp. nov. Type.—No. 271, Bureau of Science collection; collected on Camiguin Island, Cagayan Islands, in 1907, by R. C. McGregor. Description of type—(Adult male.) Head long, slender, snout projecting; rostral visible above, the projecting part some- what striate; internasals long, narrow, not touching labials; prefrontals nearly twice as long as wide; frontal elongate, shorter than its distance to end of snout; parietals a little longer than broad; nasal elongate, four times as long as wide; 2 mod- erate-sized loreals above a very large loreal; 2 large preoculars, upper touching frontal; 2 postoculars; an anterior and a poste- rior subocular; temporals 2 + 3 + 3, third upper largest; 8 and 9 upper labials, third and fourth upper labials broken, normally, leaving the lower postocular and a large square loreal scale below the 2 upper loreals; fifth labial enters eye; 9 and 8 lower labials, fourth and fifth touching anterior pair of chin shields, which are smaller than second pair; ventrals, 208; subcaudals, 160 (tip of tail missing; estimated 15 subcaudals also missing) ; anal single, body compressed with only very indistinct lateral keels on ventrals. Color in alcohol—Above uniform gray, growing lighter gray on sides; skin on neck and body between scales black and white, the black extending on scales on anterior part of body; tail above gray, at base mottled with darker, growing brownish toward end; belly gray-white with a cream-white stripe along sides of belly; tail dark mottled below. Measurements of Dryophis griseus sp. nov. mm. Total length 1,498 Snout to vent 951 Tail 547 Length of head 36 Width of head 16 Variation.—Two other specimens are in my collection; one from Limay, Bataan, the other from Montalban, near Manila. The Limay ‘specimen agrees with the type in practically all de- tails save that the fourth labial enters the eye, and the tail is not so dark as in the type. Aan SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Remarks.—This species may be identical with Cope’s variety laeta. Unfortunately his description is not at hand. If the species are identical, then Cope’s name will be used as a specific, and not as a varietal name. Known from Luzon and Camiguin Island. There is a speci- men of this species in the collection of the Ateneo de Manila. This species differs from Dryophis prasinus in having an un- divided anal, and in having 2 preoculars instead of 1. From Dryophis preocularis it differs in the presence of a large loreal in front of the lower preocular. From both it differs in the distinctive coloration. It is probably most closely related to D. fasciolatus but differs in the number of loreals and pre- oculars. TABLE 47.—Measurements and scale counts of Dryophis griseus sp. nov. ies Sex. Locality. | Collector. Length.| Tail. nee |Posted! oaryreeed | Owes pean ——| ar ee mee ees r| | | | mm, mm. | | 254| of | Limay, Bataan..........-..---- H. M. Curran.......---- 985} 851) 219 | 271 fou Camiguinie stcc cc ems eee R. C. McGregor seaeaeech) Lya98 | 547-208 | R668) o | Montalban.__.--.0...2.22222-2. | W. Schultze._.._...._.. | (a) 545 (8) | r =, = sao, | ; ° ) n . . | 4 é | § | tapi | 2 | g | z ie ele ese ee ee ee nes $ 4 $ Saleen ee | 8 a | @ | Collection. \ Q al ih ces ® 2 | &@/ & | £ Seas ch | 3 a 3 a ° Sa aoe Co) ee) | a | < ele|al = | | i en a aie nh = feeolie axle oat | : | 254] 180 Lian ly 2) °2 8, 9/2+8+738) 45) Bureau of Science. | | 211 |a1eo} iif 2 | 5 Bilis lp cave. fpacencee | | ae ll | *;} 89] 9-8) 2+843) 415 Do. (2 | | R663 | 176 1h 5 \ 3 | 2) 9 | 10-9) 2+84+3 45 | B. H. Taylor. | | | | | ’ Mutilated. DRYOPHIS PREOCULARIS sp. nov. PLATE 28 Type.—No. 408, E. H. Taylor collection; collected at Buna- wan, Agusan, Mindanao, March 12, 1913, by E. H. Taylor. Description of species.—(Adult female.) Rostral broader than high, the portion seen above a mere line; internasals elongate, nearly twice as long as wide, their outer edge bent sharply down at canthus rostralis; prefrontals somewhat wider than internasals, twice as long as wide, overlapping frontal; DRYOPHIS 923 frontal at least one and a half times as long as wide; very narrow behind; in its widest part it does not equal width of supraoculars; parietals large, elongate; supraoculars large and projecting, so that eye is hardly visible from above; canthus rostralis very sharp; 2 large preoculars, the upper separating supraoculars from prefrontals ; 2 loreals, the posterior largest; nostril in a very elongate, very narrow nasal; 2 small post- oculars; temporals 2 + 3; parie- tals bordered by 3 temporals; 9 upper labials in the following order of size: sixth, fifth, eighth, second, first, third, seventh, fourth, ninth; fourth, fifth, and fic. 19. Dryophis preoeularis sp. nov.; sixth enter eye; mental very drawing of a Polillo specimen ; a, head, i cs dorsal view; b, head, lateral view. small, triangular; 7 lower labials in the following order of size: fifth, fourth, sixth, seventh, first, third, second; 4 labials touch first pair of chin shields; scales smooth, in 15 rows; ventrals, 227, keeled laterally; subcaudals, 110; anal undivided; eye large, equal to half its distance from snout; latter acuminate, projecting. Color in life-—Bluish green tending toward yellowish green on sides, with no markings of any sort; head greenish; belly green- ish with a narrow cream line running full length of body and tail on outer part of ventrals and anals. Remarks.—This species is widely distributed, from Mindanao to Luzon. In the character of the anal shield and in the arrange- ment of the preoculars it is constant. In Negros and Panay there occurs what appears to be a variety of the species. It is red and doubtless represents what has been regarded by other authors as Dryophis prasinus xanthozonus. However, Dryophis xanthozona is a distinct species and is probably confined to southeastern Asia and Java. I regard the red form here as merely a color variety of Dryophis preocularis. A red form also occurs in Dryophis prasinus. The species here described is known from Mindanao (green form) ; Negros (green and red forms), Panay (red form), Po- lillo (green form), and Luzon (green form). Additional ma- terial from Negros and Panay may warrant the separation of the red form as a subspecies. 224 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS TABLE 48.—Measurements and scale counts of Dryophis preocularis sp. nov, | | | , Ven- Sub- No Sex. | Locality. | Collector. Length.| Tail. rales. caus Anals. | femaes : | | —— sien 2 a | | | | mm. mm. | 269; of 1,020 382 221 199 1 | 274 g 1,550 532 213 177 i | 342| 1,145 460 216 192 1 343g 1,170 | 450 216 199 1 | | 344) of 40 >) ete et | | 346! 9 950} 345 212 175 tet | saz] oo 840 | (a) 221 (a) 1 | saa] 985 | 370) 118 | 201 1 | | 350 | fe) 1, 460 | 500-219) 2169 | 1 | | 31, 1,080 400 214) 1188/1 | | ae) : woofs --| 26/81] 1 | == , as aaa Ga a Lo- |Preocu-) Post- Upper | Lower Labials Tempo-| Scale " No reals lars. loculars.| labials. | labials.| sae rals. rows. Collection. | 269 2 2 2 8-10 9 5-6 | 2+3+-3 15 | Bureau of Science. | 274 a 2 2 7 9 5 | 2+3-+3 15 Do. aa2| 23] 2 2 oi pees 45/24+3+3) 15 Do. 343 3 2 2 8 9 4-5 | 24243 15 Do. | 344 2 2 2 8 9) 4-5 | 24343 15 Do. 346 3 2 2 8 9, 45/24+8+3/ 165 Do. | 347 2 2 | 2 8-9 9 4-5 | 24+3+3 15 Do. | | 349 3 2 2 8 9 4-5 | 24343 15 Do. | 350 2 it 2) 8&9 9} 4-5-6 | 2+3+3 15 Do. | | 351 2 2 2} 89 8 4-5 | 24343 15 | Do. | 352 3 2 2 8 9 4-5 2+8+3| 15 Do. 4 Tip of tail missing. DEADLY POISONOUS SNAKES ELAPIDA® An erect, grooved or perforated fang on the anterior portion of the anterior maxillary bone, or several anterior maxillary teeth grooved or perforated; in either case connecting with a poison gland; otherwise, as the Natricide. The family corresponds to Boulenger’s group C, of the family Colubride, which he calls Proteroglypha. Deadly poisonous. The family Elapida is composed of two subfamilies; the first group consists of aqua- tic or semiaquatic snakes; the second, of land snakes. Key to the subfamilics of the Elapidx. Hydrine (p. 225). Elapine (p. 254). AIPYSURUS 995 HYDRIN 4: Hydrophiine BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 264; WALL, Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1907-10) 169. Nostrils dorsal or lateral, usually valvular; tail strongly com- pressed, oarlike; hypapophyses not developed throughout the vertebral column. Body compressed, the ventrals very small in marine types, or large in semiaquatic forms. Rostral shield. with two notches in oral border; only the cleft part of tongue capable of being protruded. Anterior maxillary teeth folded into a tube or grooved; frequently posterior teeth also grooved. Deadly poisonous. Eleven genera of this subfamily are recognized; with the ex- ception of Laticauda, Aipysurus, and Emydocephalus, all are entirely aquatic. The three mentioned are found frequently at some distance from the water, and these genera are equipped with wide ventral scales, which enable them to perform land loco- motion, Key to the Philippine genera of the Hydrine. a’. Ventral scales large, transversely widened. b’. Nostrils on upper surface of snout; nasals in contact. Aipysurus Lacépéde (p. 225). b*. Nostrils lateral; nasals separated by internasals. Laticauda Laurenti (p. 227). a’. Ventral scales small or indistinguishable from body scales; nostrils superior. 6’. All maxillary teeth grooved (sometimes faintly); 4 to 10 small teeth LOO Ww sham esses is Reese rows et nee Disteira Lacépéde (p. 2386). b?, Only 2 to 5 faintly grooved teeth follow the large fangs. Lapemis Gray (p. 249). b’. Poison fangs short, followed after an interspace by 7 or 8 solid GOO tH setecn nieve caste sea de segue eee oe Pelamydrus Stejneger (p. 252). It is highly probable that species of other genera occur in the Islands, and that specimens will be taken along the coasts. Genus AIPYSURUS Lacépéde Aipysurus LACKPEDE, Ann. Mus. 4 (1804) 197; DumERiL and BIBRON Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1323; FiscHER, Abh. Natur. Hamburg 3 (1856) 31; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 108; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 357; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 303; WALL, Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1907-10) 189. Stephanophydra TscHupl, Arch. Nat. (1837) 331; Gray, Cat. Snakes (1849) 59. Hydrophis, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 488. Hypotropis Gray, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 18 (1846) 284. Tomogaster, part., Scumipt, Abh. Natur. Hamburg 2 (1852) 75. Emydocephalus KREFFT, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1869) 321. Pelagophis PETERS and Dorra, Ann. Mus. Genova 13 (1878) 413. 161465——15 2°6 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS “Maxillary a little longer than the ectopterygoid, extending forwards beyond the palatine; poison-fangs moderate, followed, after a short interspace, by 8 to 10 grooved teeth; anterior mandibular teeth feebly grooved. Snout short; nostrils su- perior ; head-shields large or broken up into scales; nasals in con- tact with each other. Body moderate; scales imbricate; ven- trals large, keeled in the middle.” (Boulenger.) The genus is distributed in the Tropics, throughout the Malay Archipelago and the western Pacific Ocean. Boulenger recog- nizes four species, one of ,which, Aipysurus annulatus Krefft, Wall has placed in the genus Emydocephalus. Only one species has been recorded from the Philippines. AIPYSURUS EYDOUXII (Gray) Tomogaster eydouxit GRAY, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 59. Thalassophis anguillefornis SCHMIDT, Abh. Natur. Hamburg 2 (1852) 76, pl. 1. Thalassophis muraenaeformis SCHMIDT, Abh. Natur. Hamburg 2 (1852) OTs Aipysurus levis (non Lacépéde) GUICHENOT, Voy. Péle Sud. Zool. 3, Rept. (1853) 21, pl. 6; DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1326, pl. 77b, fig. 4; FiscHer, Abh. Natur. Hamburg. 3 (1856) 382; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1872) 40, pl. 2, fig. 1. Atpysurus margaritophorus BLEEKER, Nat. Tijds. Nederl. Ind. 16 (1858) 49. Aipysurus anguilleformis GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 357; BoeTTGER, Zool. Anz. (1892) 420. Aipysurus eydouxti BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 304; WALL, Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1907-10) 189, figs. 5, A, B, C (after Jan). Description of species—(From Boulenger.) ‘Eye a little longer than its distance from the mouth. Rostral a little broader than deep; upper head-shields regular; frontal large, once and two thirds to twice as long as broad, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, as long as or a little longer than the parietals; nasal in contact with or narrowly separated from the preocular; one pre- ee ae ee ne eee eee ee and two postoculars; temporals Jan, copied from Wall; a, head, dorsal 1 -+- 2 - or 2 + 2: six upper la- ak ee Bee Dials. fourth entering the eye: anterior chin-shields shorter than the posterior, which are separated by an azygous shield. Scales smooth, in 17 rows. Ventrals, 140-142. LATICAUDA 997 Color.—‘‘Dark brown above, with cross-bands of yellow, black-edged scales, often broken up on the vertebral line; these bands widening towards the belly, which is yellow, with or without dark brown spots.” Measurements of Aipysurus eydouxti (Gray). mm. Total length 490 Snout to vent 420 Tail 70 Variation—Wall adds the following characters: Rostral touches 4 shields, the portion visible above about half the inter- nasal suture. Prefrontals not in contact with supralabials, usually undivided, but sometimes divided longitudinally on one or both sides into two parts; the sutures of frontal subequal, one-third or one-fourth longer than supraoculars, longer than parietals; parietals undivided or divided; nasals touch 2 supra- labials; fourth lower labial largest; 2 pairs of chin shields, the second pair separated by a single scale; ventrals from 138 to 142, three or more times the width of outer scale row. Remarks.—This species is rare in the Philippines. I have seen no specimen. Both Boulenger and Wall give the Philip- pines as part of its range, and the species is included in the present work on their authority. Genus LATICAUDA Laurenti Laticauda LAURENTI, Syn. Rept. (1768) 109; STEINEGER, Bull. U. 8S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 402. Hydrus, part., SCHNEIDER, Hist. Amph. 1 (1799) 233. Platurus LATREILLE, Hist. Nat. Rept. 4 (1802) 183; Daupin, Rept. 7 (1803) 223; WaAcLER, Syst. Amph. (1830) 166; DumERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1318; FiscHEer, Abh. Natur. Hamburg 3 (1856) 27; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 108; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 355; BorTrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 118; BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 394; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 306; Casto DE ELEraA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 442. Hydrophis, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 488. “Maxillary much shorter than the ectopterygoid, extending forwards beyond the palatine, with two large poison-fangs; one or two small solid teeth near the posterior extremity of the maxillary. Head-shields large; nostrils lateral, the nasals separated by internasals; preeocular present; no loreal. Body much elongate; scales smooth and imbricate; ventrals and sub- caudals large.” (Boulenger.) DIS SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Stejneger * recognizes provisionally five species of the genus, while Wall + recognizes but three. Three species are found in the Philippines. Key to the Philippine species of Laticauda Lawrentt. a'. Rostral not divided horizontally; belly without median keel. b'. Two prefrontals; scales in 19 rows.. L. laticaudata (Linneus) (p. 228). b?. Three prefrontals; scales in 21 to 25 rows. L. colubrina (Schneider) (p. 231). a:. Rostral divided horizontally; belly with median keel on posterior half. L. semifasciata (Reinwardt) (p. 234). I disagree with Barbour’s ¢ opinion that the first two should be regarded as subspecies of a single species. Besides the al- most constant variation of certain scale elements, the fact should not be overlooked that L. colubrina apparently grows to nearly double the size of L. laticaudata. LATICAUDA LATICAUDATA (Linnzeus) Coluber laticaudatus LinNajus, Mus. Ad. Frid. (1754) 31, pl. i6, fig. 1; Syst. Nat. ed. 10 1 (1758) 222; ed. 12 1 (1766) 383; AN- DERSON, Bihang Svensk. Vet. Akad. Handl. 1V 24 (1899) 18. Laticauda scutata LAURENTI, Syn. Rept. (1768) 109. Platurus fasciatus LATREILLE, Hist. Nat. Rept. 4 (1502) 185; FISCHER, Abh. Natur. Ver. Hamburg 3 (1856) 28; P&TERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 691; (1872) 860; HaLLOWELL, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sei. Phila- delphia (1860) 493; BoULENGER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1887) 149. Hydrophis colubrinus, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1857) 414. Platurus laticaudatus GIRARD, Herp. U. S. Expl. Exp. (1858) 180; Peters, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1877) 417; Bortrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 118; BoULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 395, text fig; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 307; CasTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 442; WALL, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1908) 96 and 101; Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1907-10) 185. Platurus lawrenti RAFINESQUE, Ain. Month. Mag. 1 (1817) 482. Coluber platicaudatus OKEN, Allgem. Naturg. 8 (1836) 566. Platurus laticaudatus var. A., GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 272. Platurus fischeri JAN, Rev. Mag. Zool. (1859) 149; Icon. Ophid. 40 (1872) pl. 1, fig. 2; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 356, pl. 25, fig A; ANDERSON, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1871) 189; FayrErR, Thanatoph. Ind. (1874) pl. 19. Platurus affinis ANDERSON, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1871) 190. * Loc. cit. + Wall, Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1907-10) 107, states that the sup- posedly solid teeth really have very small grooves. + Barbour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. 44 (1912) 181. LATICAUDA 999 Laticauda laticaudata STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 402; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 265. Laticauda laticaudata laticaudata BARBOUR, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. 44 (1912) 1381. Description of species.—(From No. 1834, E. H. Taylor collec- tion, collected on Mindanao coast, October, 1913, by E. H. Tay- lor.) Head moderate, not or scarcely distinct from neck; ros- tral much higher than wide, scarcely visible above, forming its broadest suture with first labial; internasals triangular, narrowly in contact with rostral, forming their longest suture with nasal; Tan a Fic. 21. Laticauda laticaudata (Linneus) ; after Wall; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view ; ¢, chin. prefrontals broader than deep, narrowly in contact laterally with third labial, separating nasal and prefrontal, the suture between prefrontals shorter than that between internasals; fron- tal longer than wide, four-sided, much longer than its distance from end of snout, as long as parietals; nasal narrow, elongate, nostril pierced nearer its posterior end, in contact with 3 la- bials; 1 preocular, higher than wide; 2 postoculars, the lower lying somewhat under posterior part of eye; 1 anterior tem-. poral; temporal formula, 1 + 2 + 3; mental very small, not or very narrowly separated from second pair of labials, not touching chin shields; lower labials nearly hidden, for the most part lying horizontal on jaws, the 2 anterior touching first chin shields, which are a little smaller than posterior; tail strongly com- pressed, widened at tip. Color in life-—Above blue with 66 black bars about body, of which 7 are confined to tail; bands are 3 scales wide on back, Separated by interspaces of equal width but narrow on belly, a broad band on head, widest medially, not reaching anterior part of frontal; head band and 2 nuchal bands interrupted ventrally, but connected by a broad ventrolateral band on side of head and neck; no light labial band; top of snout yellow with 230 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS superciliary yellow line; a yellow band on chin and throat me- dially; belly yellow, the color reaching up halfway on sides; eye blue, small; pupil round. Measurements of Laticauda laticaudata (Linnzus). mm, Total length 581 Snout to vent 515 Tail 66 Length of head 15 Width of head 8.5 Depth of tail, greatest 11 Variation.—In the three specimens examined the ventral range is 228 to 242; the subcaudal, 42 to 45; the number of bands varies between 53 and 66. The variation of scale counts in twelve specimens from various localities listed by Boulenger is as follows: Ventrals, 210 to 240 (average, 227) ; subcaudals, 25 to 45; bands, 29 to 48. In this species, as in Laticawda colubrina, the subcaudals average about 10 more in males than in females. Philippine specimens have a higher average of ventrals, and a much higher average number of bands. Remarks.—This species apparently does not attain as large a size as Laticauda colubrina. Specimens are usually found about rocky seacoasts. They feed largely on small eels. TABLE 49.—Measurements and scale counts of Laticauda laticaudata (Linneus). ee / | he a | | | ieee rte es eee er eninge a u ae a No. | Locality. | Collector. 2B 2 ga| | o o 5U Ss | na >la | <4 | | Pairs. | 18384 |) Mindanao -------------- SUR Sa aly lores sare, em oe hake eee ye 234 43 2 ees COC eae Ups a ek Pee aire ene Wiereet fy nee heemhe hears eed Mero : ye | 228 42) 2 | 1286 | Mindoro... --------------- | Marine Biological Expedition ........| ye | 242 45| 2 | : 5 al . a ¢)4| 3 2 No. antes! a ag| ula Collection. So eSah oe 3 | 2 | & 3 eres 5 Bi ooel oes shields) & |] & | A wai ale ; —|—|— js Bi Sel ak | mm.) nem, 1834 eli) Soa 2/ 1! 2}/1+2+3] 66! 19] 581! 66 | E. H. Taylor. 1419 1 3.4 2; 1| 2/1+2+38! 56/ 19| 460} 57 Do. 1286 7 | 3,4 2 1 2l1+2+3/ 72 | Bureau of Science. 58) 19 | 593 | In the Philippines specimens are known from Mindanao, Sulu, Samar, and northern Mindoro. The species is widely distributed LATICAUDA 931 outside the Philippines, being known from the Indian Ocean, the coasts of the islands of the East Indian Archipelago, and western and southern Pacific Ocean. “LATICAUDA COLUBRINA (Schneider) PLATE 29 Coluber laticaudatus, part., LINNZUS, Syst. Nat. ed. 10 1 (1776) 222; ed. 12 1 (1776) 383. Hydrus colubrinus SCHNEIDER, Hist. Amph. 1 (1799) 238. Platurus fasciatus, part., DAUDIN, Hist. Nat. Rept. 7 (1803) 226, pl. 85, fig. 1; DUMERIL and BiBRoNn, Erp. Gen. 7 (1854) 1321. Hydrophis colubrinus SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 514, pl. 18, figs. 21 and 22; Cuvinr, Reg. Anim., Rept. Atlas, pl. 36. Laticauda scutata (Laurenti) CANToR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 125. Platurus colubrinus Girarp, U. S. Expl. Exp. Herp. (1858) 178; PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1877) 418; FIscHER, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg (1888) 18; BoULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 895; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 308; WALL., Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1907-10) 186. Platurus scutatus GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 356. Platurus laticaudatus, var. B., GUNTHER Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 272. Platurus fasciatus var. colubrina FISCHER, Abh. Nat. Ver. Hamburg 3 (1856) 30. Platurus laticaudatus var. colubrina BorTTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 118; Offenb. Ver. Naturk. 25 (1885) 155. Laticauda colubrina STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 406. Description of species.—(From No. 908, Bureau of Science collection; collected on Dipolod Island, Sulu Archipelago, Sep- tember, 1917, by E. H. Taylor.) Head large, somewhat distinct from neck, rather flattened above; rostral higher than wide, forming its broadest sutures with labials, its shortest with inter- nasals, latter longer than wide, lying diagonally, in contact for about half their length, pointed anteriorly; prefrontals some- what larger than internasals, separated from each other, touch- ing nasal and preocular laterally; an azygous shield, lying between prefrontals and partially between internasals, forms a suture with frontal; latter almost twice as long as wide, produced to a long point behind; supraoculars about as wide as long; parietals wider than long, disposed diagonally, touching supe- rior preocular ; nasal single, elongate, nostril triangular, pierced in posterior part; 1 preocular touching second labial, widely sep- arated from frontal; 2 postoculars, lower largest; 1 anterior temporal; temporal formula 1+ 2+ 3; 7 upper labials, third and fourth entering orbit; mental very small, first pair of lower labials barely in contact behind it, and followed by an azygous 939 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS postmental; lower labials small, usually not visible externally, only first 2 touching anterior pair of chin shields, which are smaller than second pair; 10 rows of scales between chin shields and first widened ventral; eye small, much less than its distance from nostril; scales in 23 to 25 rows around body, smooth, with- out apical pits; ventrals, 234; subcaudals, 35; anal divided, pre- ceded by a second divided scale; tail strongly compressed, end- ing in a large scute. Color in life-—Above, blue traversed by 42 black bands, about 4 scales wide, on back, and covering only 1 or 2 ventrals below, separated from each other by interspaces, 5 or 6 scales wide; tail with 4 bands, the last much widened. Head with a broad black spot; a broad black stripe on side; anterior part yellowish, with a yellow streak above eye to some distance on temporal region; a yellow stripe on lower part of upper labials and at angle of mouth; a broad black stripe from end of chin along each side of neck to third ventral, separated from its fellow by a broad median yellow stripe. Measurements of Laticauda colubrina (Schneider.) mm. Total length 1,390 Snout to vent 1,275 Tail 115 Width of head 29 Length of head 32 Depth of tail, greatest 31 Variation.—Males differ from females in having longer and thicker tails, not so strongly compressed at base, rather more triangular in cross section, and with an average of 9 more sub- caudals; in medium-sized specimens, the ventrals have a double row of keels, nearly the same ventral average, with notches on anterior part of each scute. The range of ventral counts in the Philippine specimens examined is from 229 to 248; of the subcaudal from 34 to 47; the scale rows vary between 23 and 25, most of the specimens having 23 rows on anterior part of body and 25 beyond the middle of the widest part; in all speci- mens the ventral preceding anal is divided. The lower labials are bent over edge of mouth and lie for the most part. hori- zontally ; the mental is extremely small, the first pair of labials not or but barely touching a small azygous postmental. This scale is distinct in all save two specimens, in which it is fused with first labial. The number of black bands around body and tail varies between 43 and 59, the average being 49. In color most of the specimens are dark to grayish blue above barred LATICAUDA 933 with black or brown, the width of the black bars half to three- fourths the width of the interspaces. Two Sulu specimens dif- fer from the others examined in being greenish yellow with brown bands. It is significant that these two specimens have 59 bars across body. Boulenger gives the limit of scale varia- tion as follows: Ventrals, 195 to 240, average, 217; subcaudals, 30 to 45; scale rows, 21 to 25; black bands, 28 to 54. TABLE 50.—Measurements and scale counts of Laticauda colubrina (Schneider.) a No. | Locality. | Collector. s Eolas | | Cap ie ean eae ae ae ae | | o | oO oS ov 3 | c eos | seh a Dmg ites eed 2 | | | | | mm. mm, | Pairs. |. 418) Bantayano tee L. E. Griffin.__.--__- @ |1,470, 120} 286, 34) 2 Read ean sdo a wheat nr cen [eaiews toile Ateesrey | 9 |a490! 140! 287) 37! 2 475 | Iwahig, Palawan _. i 3 | 910! 180) 287) 45) 2 476 | Bantayan__________ ; fof 115 | 97 | 242 46 | aml 477 | Palawan_....-..-- 2 300 bd 229] 45) 2 | 478 | Bantayan_..__._....--------- o | 760, 96, 288] 46, 2 Wy pA7Q) mend peer keno ee cL pe liee 455| 57 | 286| 44] 2 | 480 | Palawan.) 20 ie 2h | C. M. S | 945) 135) 240] 47) 2 | 908 | Dipolod Q 1,390} 115 234] 35] 2 | 1281 | Negros... e | 995 100 246 36 2 | ¥ | 968; 110 239 | 36| 2 | 3 | 720° 90 235] 44) 2 | é | 875 105 | 285) 44} 2 Q | 1,480] 140° 28 36, 3 | | . ereer|| | | | | | Labials. FA | ’ es — S| a) an rs | et rs a ofl zi@l#)] 4 | oO. | | Touch} 3 g | g 4 ee & | F Collection. Vener) oe [oe (SEL EE] 8) | 3 | | aes a é i | od & a | 473 | |i 28 | 2 aM) Hail) eh 2/14+2+38! 54 | Bureau of Science. | 474) 7-8 3, 4 | 2) 1) 8] a1| 2}1+2+4+3] 49 Do. | | 45/ 7 3, 4 | 2} 1{ 8} a] 2)1+2+38) 50 Do | 476) 7-8] 3,4] Di) ap Bie hs Sy aee ea cag Do | 477 | 7 3, 4 | 2 1} 3| | 2j1+2+3! 43| Do 478 | 7 Ba 2 dal sh 2a 2)14+2+8/ 49 Do | 479 | q 3, 4 | 2 1) 8] a! Bahasa ag") Do. | 40! 7] 34) 2} q@ | a! 1] a2lite+3] 49] Do. 908 | 7 3, 4 | 2{ 1 3 1] 2/1424) 46 Do | 1231 | | | | | alee Neel cra ee | 1231 | 71 3, 4| 2 1 3 Uh 2 happy Be.) Se aylor. 1381 | 7 3, 4 | 2 1/ a] 1] 214248) 59] Do. 1353 7 Ene | Pl) oat el) A 2 14243) 50 Do | 1307 | q cdi) 2 | Ti 38h! a 2!t+2+3 46/ Do | | 1642 7 3, 4! 2| (a) 3; 1 2/1+2+3! 47/| Do | 234 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS It will be seen, therefore, that Philippine specimens have an average of twenty ventrals more than the average of spec- imens listed by Boulenger. They differ also from other snakes of this species in the presence of the small azygous postmental and (in the males) of a double row of keels along the ventral scales with the scutes notched. I am convinced that Philippine forms represent a subspecies of Laticauda colubrina; whether it belongs with the typical form I am uncertain. The figure given in Cuvier * is very probably of this group, since it agrees in the number of stripes and in the presence of a postmental. Remarks.—This species is abundant along the rocky coasts of the Philippines. In the Sulu Archipelago I found the snake in large numbers on small rocky islands, usually in cracks in cliffs and under rocks. A number of specimens taken rotted from lack of proper preservatives. The snakes of this species are more terrestrial than are the other poisonous water snakes. They feed wholly on fish, usually eels. When on land they are rather helpless, and may be picked up by the tail with impunity. The species is poisonous, probably deadly to man. In the Philippines specimens are known from Samar, southern Luzon, Bantayan, Palawan, Negros, and also from the small islands of Dipolod, Tulian, and Bubuan, in the Sulu Archipelago. LATICAUDA SEMIFASCIATA (Reinwardt) PLATE 3, FIG. 2; PLATE 30 Platurus semifasciatus REINWARDT, in Schlegel, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 516. Hydrophis colubrina SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp., Atlas, pl. 18, figs. 18-20; Fauna Jap., Rept. (1837) 92, pl. 10. Platurus fasciatus var. semifasciata FISCHER, Abh. Natur. Ver. Hamburg 3 (1856) 30. Platurus schistorhynchus GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1874) 297, pl. 45, fig. B; BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 395; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 309; Wau, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1908) 101; Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1907-10) 184, fig. 1. Laticauda semifasciata STEJNEGER, Bull. U. 8S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 409, pl. 22. Descripti “rom Stejneger.) ‘‘Rostral broader than high, upper edge broad and truncate, scarcely visible from above; three internasals, one unpaired anterior adjoining the rostral, of which it is in reality only a detached portion, and two posterior normal ones broadly in contact; three prefrontals, a median pentagonal one, posteriorly broadly in contact with frontal, and two lateral ones, broadly in contact with frontal * Rép. Ami: Atlas (by Gey pl. 36. LATICAUDA 235 and with supraocular; frontal large, much longer than its dis- tance from tip of snout and than the parietals, supraoculars as broad as frontal at the middle; parietals very short, not longer than broad, much shorter than frontal; nostril large, semilunar, near the middle of the long and narrow undivided nasal; no loreal; one preocular, broadly in contact with nasal; eye rather small, its vertical diameter less than its distance from edge of lip; two postoculars; temporals 2 + 3, only slightly differentiated from the adjacent scales; seven supralabials, third a Fic. 22. Laticauda semifasciata (Reinwardt) ; after Wall; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; c, chin. and fourth largest and entering eye, first as wide above as below; seven lower labials, of which the first pair behind the small mental does not reach the edge of the lip, the labials from the third backward very low, only the first three in contact with chin-shields, of which only the anterior pair is clearly differen- tiated, the posterior being represented by two scales separated by one of nearly the same size; 23 rows of smooth scales without apical pits; 205 ventrals, on the posterior half of the body by a median blunt keel and a corresponding notch in the posterior edge of each scute; anal divided; 40 pairs of subcaudals. Color (in alcohol) .—“Bluish gray, darker above, paler under- neath, with 48 dark brown rings around the body and seven on the tail, the bands being widest on the median line of the back, viz, about 34 scales wide, and there separated by a pale interval only two scales wide; the rings are about 24 ventrals wide on the underside and the light intervals about the same width; head uniform dark brown, with a yellowish horseshoe-shaped mark, the convexity of which rests on the prefrontals extending backward on the outer edge of supraoculars, upper postocular and upper temporals to and joining the first pale cross line on occiput a scale row behind the parietals; snout and labials dark brown like the rest of the head.” 236 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Measurements of Laticauda semifasciata (Reinwardt). mm. Total length 582 Snout to vent 507 Vent to tip of tail 75 “The young (in alcohol) are of a light bluish gray with blackish brown rings and markings. The latter as the snake grows larger become lighter and the former darker and browner, while the demarcation between them becomes more obscure until in very large specimens the markings become almost obliterated. In the larger specimens therefore the dark gray cross markings correspond to the whitish cross markings in the young. “This species grows to a considerable size. The largest spec- imen in our collection (No. 5546) measures 1,097 mm. in total length, with a tail 136 mm. long, while the type measures, re- spectively, 1,118 mm. and 140 mm. “Variation —There is very little variation in the scale for- mula proper, for only in one specimen (No. 5546) have I seen 4 temporals on one side, the normal number of 3 occurring on the other. In eastern specimens the number of ventrals is rarely as low as 188, but ranges usually between 197 and 212, while the subcaudals vary between 32 and 43 pairs. Sometimes anom- alies are found in the internasals; thus in No. 100 of the Im- perial Museum, Tokyo, there is a small unpaired shield behind the detached part of the rostral, broadly in contact with it and with the unpaired median prefrontal, and in our No. 7515 there are two unsymmetrical shields detached from the left inter- nasal, as shown in fig. 331.” Remarks.—This species is included in the Philippine fauna on the strength of a specimen in Silliman Institute, Dumaguete, Oriental Negros, at which town it was captured. The specimen was examined by me in 1917, but I was unable to make an ex- haustive study of it. It is very large and must measure nearly 2 meters in length. Genus DISTEIRA Lacépéde Hydrus, part., SCHNEIDER, Hist. Amph. 1 (1799) 233; WAGLER, Syst. Amph. (1880) 165. Hydrophis DAUDIN, Hist. Nat. Rept. 7 (1803) 372; Gray, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 49; DuMERIL and Bipron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1341; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 360. Disteira LACEPEDE, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 4 (1804) 210; STEJNEGER, Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 418. Letoselasma LAcErEpE, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 4 (1804) 210. Enhydris WAGLER, Nat. Syst. Amph. (1830) 166. Microcephalophis Lesson, in Bélanger’s Voy. Indes Orient., Rept. (1834) 320; Atlas, Rept. pl. 3. DISTEIRA 937 Liopata GRAY, Zool. Misc. (1842) 60. Aturia Gray, Zool. Misc. (1842) 61. Noterophis GISTEL, Naturg. Thierr. (1884) ix. Clutulia Gray, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 56. Kerilia GRAY, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 57. Thalassophis ScHmipt, Abh. Natur. Ver. Hamburg 2 (1852) 75. Distira Cops, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 32 (1887) 61; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 285. Maxillary longer than ectopterygoid, not extending forward as far as palatine; poison fangs large, followed by several grooved teeth; anterior mandibular teeth sometimes grooved; head usually smaller than body; nostrils superior, valved, pierced in a single nasal, which is in contact with its fellow; head shields large; preocular present; loreal usually absent; body long, slender anteriorly, frequently compressed; ventrals more or less distinct; always small. There are few if any greater problems in herpetology than the proper classification of sea snakes, particularly those belong- ing to the genus Disteira. Boulenger * divided the group into two genera, Hydrophis and Distira, recognizing in all forty species out of a total of nearly ninety described forms. Wall,} whose monograph on sea snakes appeared in 1911, fifteen years after Boulenger’s work, relegates thirty-nine of the species, rec- ognized by Boulenger, under a series of seventeen species of the genus Distira and one to a different genus, and adds to his list two other species, one of which (Distira neglecta) he himself described, and the other (Distira ocellata) is from a synonym of Boulenger’s Distiva ornata. Other species have since been described. It is obvious that the status of species of this genus is rather unstable. Just how many species ‘should be included in the Philippine fauna is a matter of considerable doubt. Hydrophis abbrevia- tus Jan, H. brevis Jan, and H. loreata are all referable to Lapemis hardwickit Gray. Hydrophis semperi Garman and Hydrophis westermanni Jan are very probably referable to Disteira cyano- cincta; and Disteira longiceps, recorded by Griffin from Manila Bay, is probably Distetra ornata. Thus we are left with six species reported as occurring in the Philippines. These are Disteira fasciata, D. cincinnatii, D. ornata, D. cyanocincta, D. spiralis, and D. cyanosoma. I strongly suspect that Peters’s record of Hydrophis fasciatus will have to be referred to Distetra cincinnatit, as has been done * Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 271-299. + Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1911) 169-251. SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 238 | "89% | Yale | 8-8 | F's 8 i i eeereeecn opie 82K. | | T |S Alor Z st ‘gtop'g | g dames, | paog | pi0z Were veep ee eter ge # | | | oh 's | | (0U AlarBd ‘sox | z \1 | 8 Ajoavs Z | Aare p‘g 8-2 1p | 9 so22 2-2 2------------- ‘sax | 2 Ajaaea [ | T IT Pe 810) A[atvrg, p G Ajered p | Se SO ata re arr pe a meio oe air | eel ramet 25 Seer ee is = T8tq8] | -gzey | | | ‘ada saque ‘sreiqey | | puosas sayono} | _ |'81B[Nd0azqg | ‘sperodwa, = | ‘sare “Sa[BIAl | [By uosjerg NvojF0g d| : s[Biqey jedd yy) | are | raters IP bP Sh-OF 8& | gb-pe be | Pe | 88-8 && | pe-08 | oF | oP | 9P-8E &P | FP-TP Vie | 13 | 60-62 GLa | 86-L2 | ‘aBBlaae | “BzIUIT |, | “SPLWIT «= ‘advIoas ) csqruy | +s] rudy] satoadg a3BIOAY aemagy aie ate saloadg esBIIAY a[eua.y asBIIAYy ary | | *satnadg | “Spog SPN 5 | ‘SMOU ATVOS pias ey ee eae ROB LGrs (aE a TS a rages ee oe a te ee ee eggs escent e ee rina? | Bids 868-028 | 098 868-098 988 SEESOCEA EET) RES ata ae as er sateen are eaee ea ee ena ta Eee ee | She 8LE-E26 «19% BLZ-ZhS GES SU GES COTY ROL (lire oe athe amie ap eer a a aa see pee ni Crew ee oe wean nn aes ear Ae | T98 V6E-02E | ELE | pee-eze | ore GOEOEE OBE | snot ch stg sag Soca Se SPEC SSS ca seco see se teceetete netted Gaede sce saee Soaks ie Sey ean eee a li blll ene ‘aBVIVAB, -“szUIIT |. | ‘Sq rUly | “BYU ‘suew | te 5 | setvedg = saivadg OBEIOAN ‘apeweay epee. ‘a[e IW -pedg Seiveds | Bt are oars ey = Ee ere ee ==> ee ESS Se RRM aS ATTY Pe Oe EEE ‘adA} UWOA y “SSTIVULNGA ~~, Duosouvha “qT pyouis0UnDhs “q DEDULO “(I LLIDUUVIU LI vy DULOSOUDHI °C DIIULIOUDNI “J DIDULO “ DI DILLO yp DUMOSOUDANI “CT DJIULIOUDRI “(J ‘d 2UJDUUIIULI “CT a381q fo sawods aumddipyg oy) fo szunoo 91DIS— Tq ATIVE 1UpDUUIULD “ DISTEIRA 239 with Boettger’s record for the same species. There appears to be but a single record for D. spiralis from Manila, that of Jan. I strongly suspect that that specimen is an abnormal D. cyano- cincta with a single anterior temporal. As a result of this elim- ination, four species remain whose status is stable, and which undoubtedly occur in the Philippines. These are D. cyanocincta, D. cincinnatii, D. cyanosoma, and D. ornatus. The last-named species belongs to the variety D. inornata of Gray. Table 51 will serve as a key for species found in the Philippines. DISTEIRA CINCINNATII Van Denburgh and Thompson Disteira cincinnatti VAN DENBURGH and THOMPSON, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. IV 3 (1908) 41, pl. 7; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 264. Description of species —(From No. 1327, E. H. Taylor collec- tion; collected in Manila Bay, October, 1914, by E. H. Taylor.)' (Male.) Body compressed, tail flattened; head small, not dis- d 2 f Fic. 23. Disteira cincinnatii Van Denburgh and Thompson; after Van Denburgh and Thomp- son; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; c, chin; d, anterior ventrals; e, anal region ; f, ventrals. tinct from neck; depth of neck contained in greatest body depth nearly three times; head tapering, rather convex above; eyes large; rostral about as deep as broad, distinctly visible from above; internasal absent; nasals large, nearly quadrangular, longer than wide, nostril pierced near its outer posterior edge 240 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS and connected with outer and posterior sutures by shallow grooves; prefrontals broader than deep, touching second labials laterally, their mutual suture little less than one-third that between nasals; frontal small, longer than broad, as wide as supraoculars and scarcely longer; parietals elongate, in contact for three-fourths of their length; upper labials 6 (5 on right side), first small, second largest, fifth triangular, third and fourth broadly entering eye; preocular small; 1 postocular; temporals i-++1; 8 lower labials (9 on left side), fourth a very small scale widely separated from chin shields; mental very small; first pair of labials of same size as second chin shields; 3 labials in contact with anterior chin shields, which are shorter and wider than second pair; latter in contact, bordered by 2 labials; 28 scale rows around neck, 40 around widest part of body, 32 around widest part of tail; scales subimbricate anteriorly but juxtaposed posteriorly, each with a small indistinct tubercle; ventrals, 367, about twice as wide as adjoining scale rows, the last 5 divided; 4 anals, a small inner pair and a large outer pair; 64 sub- caudals. Color.Head entirely black, neck black with narrow bars not meeting below; body brownish black, the bars of yellowish white growing wider on sides, meeting or barely failing to meet below, very much obscured dorsally; tail black with 5 bars of light color; last 2 scarcely formed; 47 light bands on body, 5 on tail. Measurements of Disteira cincinnatii Van Denburgh and Thompson. mm, Total length 645 Snout to vent 575 Tail 70 Length of head 10.5 Width of head 6 Width of neck 76 Depth ‘of body 19 Depth of tail AS Variation.—Van Denburgh and Thompson give measure- ments and scale counts for twenty specimens of this species. The scale counts average as follows: Neck rows, 27; body, 42; ventrals, 361. The average number of bands on body is 45, on tail, 4. These authors report the following differences between this species and Disteira fasciata Schneider and D. brookii Bou- lenger: DISTEIRA 241 This species is closely related to D. fasciata Schneider and D. brookii Boulenger. From D. fasciata it differs in being much stouter; in the narrow portion of the neck being shorter; in the lower average * number of gastrosteges; in the arching of the maxilla between the fang and the first tooth and the absence of an acute apex in front of the fangs; and in the less acute posterior angle of the frontal plate. From D. brookii it differs in the lower average number of gastrosteges; in the character of the scales on the sides of the body, which are mostly regular hexagons or are a trifle broader than long, where in D. brookii the upper and lower angles of the scales are very acute and the laterals are twice the size of the scales on the back. In D. brookti the snout is much broader. Remarks—The type is from Manila Bay, collected in 1906 by Thompson. The species is not rare apparently, but is not frequently taken in fishing nets, due to its small size. It is poisonous, but due to the extremely small size of the head prob- ably could not be considered deadly to man. It is said to feed on small eels. Known only from Manila Bay. DISTEIRA ORNATA (Gray) Aturia ornata GRAY, Zool. Misc. (1842) 61. Clutulia inornata GRay, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 56. Disteira ornata, part., BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 290, sp. b and d. Hydrophis ornatus, part., GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 876, pl. 25, fig. v. Disteira ornata imornata WaAuL, Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1911) 169-251. Disteira ornata GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 265. Description of species—(From No. 784, Bureau of Science collection ; collected in Manila Bay, 1911, by T. Bangis.) Body strongly compressed; head elongate, about one-fifth wider than neck; rostral wider than high, doubly arched below, with a slight suture (anomalous) entering from above; suture with inter- nasals wider than that with labials; no internasals; nasals elongate, the nostril pierced in outer posterior part, a suture issuing from lower side and continuing to second labial; a dim groove from posterior part of nostril to prefrontal; prefrontals wider than deep, the suture between them one-third that between nasals, in contact laterally with second labial; frontal longer than its distance from rostral, more than one and a half times as long as wide, much shorter than parietals, one and a half times as wide as supraoculars; parietals elongate, twice as long * Average in twenty specimens of D. cincinnatii is 361, while in twenty- six of D. fasciata it is 417. 161465——16 242 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS as wide; 1 preocular in contact with 2 labials; 2 postoculars; 2 anterior temporals; 8 upper labials, second largest, third and fourth entering eye, sixth, seventh, and eighth very small; mental small, triangular, wedge-shaped; 9 lower labials, last 2 very small (on right side fourth is broken and two small parts border mouth) ; first pair of labials broadly in contact, partially inserted between anterior chin shields; latter in contact poste- riorly; second pair distinct, separated from each other by 2 scales; 3 labials border first pair, and 2 or 3 the second pair; scales juxtaposed, usually six-sided, each with a small tubercle; Fic. 24. Disteira ornatu (Gray) ; drawing of a specimen from Manila Bay; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; c, head, ventral view. 2. 34 scale rows on neck; 41 on widest part of body; 25 on widest part of tail; ventrals, 248, somewhat enlarged but, frequently divided on posterior part of body; anus bordered by 3 pairs of scales, the outer pair largest; ventrals grooved, usually with a tubercle on each side; 44 subcaudals, not differentiated; tail strongly compressed, widened at base behind anus. Color in life——Above grayish blue, neck traversed by a few, very narrow, lighter lines; the blue extends down about halfway on side, below which the color is uniform yellowish white; tail grayish with eight dim, narrow, yellowish white bars; the divi- sion between dorsal and ventral color usually a straight line, but in the posterior part the demarcation line is zigzag; head slate blue; rather lavender on chin. DISTEIRA bo — (ee) Measurements of Disteira ornata (Gray). mm. Total length 763 Snout to vent 676 Tail 87 Length of head 30 Width of head 12 Depth of neck 10 Depth of body 20 Depth of tail 15.5 Variation.—The chief variation is sexual, as the table shows. Males are slenderer, with tails less compressed at base and some- what longer; they are much more strongly tuberculate than females. The males average 231 ventrals; 33 scale rows on neck; 39 scale rows on widest part of body; and 24 around tail. Females average 262.5 ventrals; 34.6 scale rows on neck; 44 on body; and 25 on tail. The females have only 2 pairs of anals, instead of 3 pairs as in the males, and the nasal scale is, usually, entirely broken in two. Several adult females show no evidence of tuberculation on scales. The specimen figured by Gtinther * (the type of Gray’s Clutulia inornata) is typically identical with Philippine specimens, as characterized by the | : > Ve | ran | ora esa ess Bi) ea | je) 8/23] 3 | es ee ee ag iE. No. Locality. Collector. ke Ses I seca ey | e| i w | . 37] o | on ae 5 | patel Bet aeons a} 2 o es | o | a raed Neato aa | Z ee) mm. | mm, | mm, ;|mm, | mm, | mm, mm. | 720) 88 | 28/13 | 11.5 | 24.5 | 14.5 695 | 72| 27/12 |10 |o0g8 | 14 TOBA Ge |. 227 | 13 {11 | 31 | 16 720 82) 27/138 | 10 82 14 sto! 67/ 20/10 , 8 |e | 10 740 | 73) 27 | 2 | 10.56/35 | 14 ws| 7/30/12 | 10 | 20 | 16.5 656 | 70 | a4)i4 ju | 22 | 44 s10| 56) 20/10 | 9 /19 | 12 f 802| 94| 28/ 12.5 | 11.5 | 24 | 16 3 365 46 | 15 | 8 [ae Waa ee Q | 4200; 48! 20/10 9 Jiv [ul | d¢ | 350] 4 | 16] 7 | 56/11 | 9 ros 320 | @) 182) ONS (hie. alee dice =e 825------- | dOraceesseeaaes tees dO yasmin | ¢ | 395) 48] 18) 85] 7 | 16 | 12 1802 ee AG yee NL ed Vall esd oan 2 | 390) 48 1g| 7.5] 7 | 15 9 * Mutilated. * Rept. Brit. India (1864) pl. 25, fig. v. PAA SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS TABLE 52.—Measurements and scale counts of Disteira ornata (Gray )—Continued. | | Scale rows. | Labials. | Subs | —= — No Men: | cau- | | Anals. | | ae | dals. | Neck. | Body. | Tail. | Laden Inaeee| peeing one | | shields eter tS | et = el -|-- Sas —o < | | | | | 43 33 38 24 | 6 | sb" Y) 3,4 | 3 39 35 | 44 26 | 4) 7 9! 3,4 3 38 35) 45 27 | 4 8} 9-10 3,4 3 42 34; 42 22 | 4) 7-8 9/ 34] 8 40 3d 40 5 235\| 6 E 8 | 3,4 3 | sal ea Head only. Remarks.—This species is fairly common about Manila Bay. Dead snakes are frequently found along the beach where they DAR SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS a have been killed by fishermen. A few specimens have been kept alive at various times in the Bureau of Science aquarium. It is significant that this species enters Lake Taal, a fresh-water lake connected with the sea by a river only a few kilometers long. From this locality Semper obtained speci- mens, one of which became the type of Garman’s Hydrophis sempert. A careful reading of Garman’s description “seventh [labial] smallest, and separated from the temporal by a large pentagonal plate” shows the presence of 2 temporals, the “plate” ap- parently being the second tempor al. Fic. 26. Disteira cyano- cincta (Daudin); after DISTEIRA CYANOSOMA Wall Jan’s D. westermanni; a, head, lateral view ; j ; b, head, lateral view Disteira cyanosoma WALL, Journ. Bombay Nat. (variation) . Hist. Soc. 22 (1918) 516. Description of species —(After the type description.) Ros- tral broader than high, in contact with 4 shields; nasals in con- tact with each other; suture from nostril passing to second supralabial; 2 prefrontals in contact with second supralabial ; frontal touches 6 shields, frontalparietal sutures rather the longest; parietals entire; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; 2 tempo- rals on right side, 3 on left side, all longer than high; 8 supra- labials, third and fourth touching the eye, sixth and seventh small, eighth elongate; 2 pairs of chin shields, subequal, the posterior pair quite separated by small scales; 4 lower labials, fourth largest, a cuneate scale wedged between third and fourth; 33 scale rows on neck, 37 in middle of body, 35 a short distance in front of anus; scales subimbricate, faintly tuberculate; ven- trals, 218 (?)* enlarged, entire, not quite twice the width of the last row of scales. Color.—Uniformly bluish, deeper dorsally, paler on sides and on belly. Remarks.—No measurements of this species are given; since the number of scale rows on the neck is only four less than in midbody it is safe to suppose that the species does not belong to the small-headed, narrow-necked group of this genus. : The species was sent from the Philippines, but the exact local- ity ig not recorded. Wall states Mages - bears a pronounced * Walls Ss query. LAPEMIS 249 superficial resemblance to Enhydrina valakadyn (Boie). I have found no specimens that are referable to this species. Genus LAPEMIS Gray Enhydris, part., MERREM, Tent. Syst. Amph. (1820) 140 (not of La- treille 1802). Hydrophis, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 512; DuMBRIL and Bipron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1841; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 109; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 360. Lapemis GRAY, Ill. Ind. Zool. 2 (1884) pl. 87, fig. 2; Zool. Misc. (1842) 60; Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 43; STeJNEGcER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 435. Pelamis, part., FIscHER, Abh. Naturw. Hamburg 3 (1856) 61. Enhydris BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 393; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 300; Wai, Mem. As. Soc. Bengal 2 (1907-10) 246. “Maxillary as long as the ectopterygoid, extending forwards as far as the palatine, with two large poison-fangs and 2 to 4 small feebly-grooved teeth. Nostrils ‘superior; head-shields large; nasals in contact with each other; a preocular; loreal present or absent. Body short and stout; scales hexagonal or squarish, juxtaposed; ventrals very feebly developed, if at all distinct.” (Boulenger.) Two species of this genus are known, Lapemis curtus Shaw, confined to the coasts of India and Ceylon, and Lapemis hard- wickti Gray, which is found in the Bay of Bengal and the waters bounding the Malay Peninsula and Malay Archipelago. The latter species is the commonest water snake in Manila Bay, as many as a hundred being brought in with a single haul of a net in the shallow water along the coast. The snakes may be seen swimming in the water or coming to the surface to breathe about the swimming rafts on Pasay Beach. LAPEMIS HARDWICKII Gray Lapemis hardwickii Gray, Ill. Ind. Zool. 2 (1834) pl. 87, fig. 2; Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 44; STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 435. Hydrophis pelamidoides SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 512, Atlas, pl. 18, figs. 16, 17; Fauna Jap., Rept. (1838) pl. 9; DumErRim and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1845; Fiscuer, Abh. Naturw. Hamburg (1856) 64, pl. 8; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1872) livr. 41, pl. 3, fig. 1. Lapemis loreatus GRAY, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 11 (1843) 46. Hydrophis hardwickti GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 380, pl. 25, fig. W.; ANDERSON, Journ. Linn. Soc. 21 (1889) 348. Hydrophis loreata GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 380; BoETTGER, Zool. Anz. (1888) 396. Hydrophis fayreriana, ANDERSON, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 40 (1871) 19. Hydrophis problematicus JAN, Rev. & Mag. Zool. (1859) 150 (Ma- nila?). 250 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Hydrophis brevis JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 109 (Manila). Hydrophis abbreviatus JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 109 (Manila) ; Icon. Ophid. (1872) livr. 40, pl. 4, fig. 2. Enhydris hardwickii, BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 301; Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 397; WALL, Mem. As. Soe. Bengal 2 (1907-10) 247. Hydrophis (Thalassophis) loreatus BOETTGER, Zool, Anz. 11 (1888) 396 (Mindanao and Luzon). Description of species—(From No, 636, Bureau of Science collection; collected in Manila Bay, by T. Bangis.) (Adult fe- male.) Head moderate; nostrils superior; rostral not visible from above, slightly higher than broad, with a short suture enter- ing from above; nasals large, longer than wide, forming a long mutual suture; a suture runs from nostril to anterior part of second labial, and a second from nostril to prefrontal, com- pletely dividing the scale; prefrontals much wider than long, touching second labial, their mutual suture as long as their sutures with frontal; frontal longer than wide, pointed sharply c Fic. 27. Lapemis hardwickii Gray; after Giinther; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; ¢, chin. behind, distinctly shorter than its distance from end of snout; supraoculars longer than broad; parietals elongate, very much longer than broad, touching postocular on one side only; 7 upper labials, the second largest and highest, touching anterior part of nasal; third and fourth labials enter eye, sixth and seventh small, wider than high; 2 large anterior temporals followed by 3 smaller ones; 3 pairs of small chin shields, only the first pair in contact; second and third pairs separated by 3 rows of small scales ; mental small, triangular ; third labial separated from edge of mouth by 2 small scales; fourth lower labial largest; posterior lower labials bent over edge of mouth; scales on body six-sided, with a distinct keel on anterior part of each; scales in 34 rows around neck; 41 rows around deepest part of body, 26 rows around deepest part of tail; ventrals about 186, small, keeled, scarcely discernible from body scales, usually with 2 tubercular keels; subcaudals, 33; 4 anal scales, 2 outer largest; anals pre- ceded by several small differentiated scales. LAPEMIS 251 at Color in alcohol.—Above, banded with bluish black and light bands, about 39 of each, from head to tail; on back the black bands are 5 scales wide, the light bands about 2 scales wide; the black bands narrow rapidly, and midway on sides they are only 2 or 3 scales wide; the white bands widen on sides proportionally as the black bands decrease in width; the black bands widen again on belly; tail largely black, the white bands not extending more than halfway down on sides of tail. Measurements of Lapemis hardwickii Gray. mm. Total length 762 Snout to vent 689 Tail 73 Depth of neck 23 Greatest depth of body 43 Depth of tail 24 Length of head 34 Width of head 25 Variation—A remarkable amount of variation is evident in this species, and the sexes differ markedly. Boettger gives the following variation in scale counts. Males: Ventrals, 135 to 168, average, 153; scale rows, 25 to 31, average, 28. Females: Ventrals, 186 to 237, average, 202; scale rows, 29 to 36, aver- age, 31. In specimens that I examined the ventrals varied between 130 and 2380; and the scale rows, between 24 and 41. Of about one hundred fifty specimens examined about sixty had one or more loreals present on one or both sides (Hydrophis loreata). The loreal is usually formed from the anterior part of second labial; sometimes it is fused with preocular, in which case the latter touches nasal; sometimes the loreal fuses with the lower part of nasal, sometimes with a second loreal formed from the upper part of first labial. Not infrequently specimens are found with one or two loreals on one side and none on the other. The frontal varies greatly in length; sometimes it is as long as its distance from snout, at other times it is scarcely half as long. One or two preoculars are present. The suture from nostril goes with about equal frequency to first and second labials; there are usually two anterior temporals but not in- frequently the temporals are fused into one scale. The markings are variable also. The number of dark bands varies between 28 and 41; they may encircle body or may be joined on back not extending the full length of side; sometimes the bands are joined by a black line following the ventrals; the bands may be wide or narrow. 252 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Remarks.—The species is incredibly numerous in Manila Bay. I have kept as many as fifty living specimens in the aquarium at one time. They do not do well in captivity and seldom live for more than a few months. To obtain the proper sort of food for them is a problem. Most of the Philippine records for this species are for Manila. . I have taken specimens at Hinigaran, on Negros. It probably occurs with greater or less frequency on the coasts of all of the islands. Outside of the Philippines it occurs from the Bay of Bengal to New Guinea. Genus PELAMYDRUS Stejneger Hydrus, part., SCHNEIDER, Hist. Amph. 1 (1799) 238. Pelamis, part., DAUDIN, Hist. Rept. 7 (1803) 357; FiscHER, Abh. Naturw. Hamburg 3 (1856) 61. Pelamis F1TzINGER, Neue Class. Rept. (1826) 29; WaAcLER, Syst. Amph. (1830) 165; Gray, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 41; DumERIL and BI- BRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1833; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 382; BortrcEr, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 119; CAsTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 443. Hydrophis, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 488; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 109. Thalassophis, part., ScumipT, Abh. Naturw. Hamburg 2 (1852) 75. Hydrus BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 397; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 266. Pelamydrus STEJNEGER, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 38 (1911) 111. “Maxillary longer than the ectopterygoid, not extending for- wards as far as the palatine; poison-fangs rather short, fol- lowed, after a short interspace, by 7 or 8 solid teeth. Nostrils superior; snout long; head-shields large, nasals in contact with each other; a przocular; no loreal. Body rather short; scales hexagonal or squarish, juxtaposed; no distinct ventrals.”’ (Bou- lenger.) Widely distributed throughout the Indian Ocean, Malay. Archi- pelago, and the Pacific Ocean. Only one species is recognized. PELAMYDRUS PLATURUS (Linnzus) PLATE 31, FIG. 1 Anguis platura LINN4ZuS, Syst. Nat. ed. 12 1 (1766) 391. Hydrus bicolor SCHNEIDER, Hist. Amph. 1 (1799) 242; CANTOR, Cat. Mal. Rept. (1847) 135; Cuvier, Reg. Anim. Rept. Atlas 6, pl. 36. Hydrophis platura LATREILLE, Hist. Nat. Rept. 4 (1802) 197. Pelamis bicolor DaupIN, Hist. Nat. Rept. 7 (1803) 366; Gray, Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 41; Dumirit and Binron, Erp. Gen. 7 (1854) 1335; GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 382; Krerrt, Snakes Austral. (1869) 98, pl. 12, fig. 19; SrraucH, Schl. Russ. Rept. (1873) 199; FAyrer, Thanatoph. Ind. (1874) pl. 17; Perers, Preuss. Exped. O. Asien 1 (1876) 382; Prerrrs and Dorta, Ann. Mus. PELAMYDRUS 253 Genova 12 (1878) 416; Murray, Zool. Sind. (1883) 397; Fisk, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1885) 482; Borrrcrer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 119; Zool. Anz. 11 (1888) 398 (Philippines) ; Casto DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 443. Hydrophis pelamis SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 508, Atlas, pl. 18, figs. 13-15; Fauna Jap., Rept. (1838) 90, pl. 8. Pelamis ornata GRAY, Zool. Misc. (1842) 60; Cat. Vip. Snakes (1849) 43. Hydrophis bicolor FiscHer, Abh. Naturw. Hamburg 3 (1856) 51; JAN, Icon. Ophid. (1872) livr. 40, pls. 2 and 3. Pelamis platurus StouiczKa, Proc. As. Soc. Bengal (1872) 92; Gar- MAN, Bull. Essex Inst. 24 (1892) 88. Hydrus platurus BOULENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 397; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 267; STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 439; BorrtcEr, Ber. Offenb. Ver. Nat. (1892) 88. Pelamydrus platurus STEJNEGER, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 38 (1911) 111. Description of species —(From an unnumbered specimen in the Santo Tomas Museum, Manila; Manila Bay.) Head elon- gate, slender; rostral as high as wide, visible above; nostril superior, pierced in nasal in lower posterior corner; nasals longer than prefrontals, their mutual suture longer than that between prefrontals; no internasals; frontal about as long as distance to end of snout, narrow and pointed posteriorly, little Fic. 28. Pelamydrus platurug (Linneus) ; after Stejneger; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; c, head, veniral view. wider than supraoculars; parietals but little longer than frontal, with 2 small equal scales inserted between them and entirely surrounded by them; 8 upper labials, first square, second high, in contact with prefrontal and upper preocular, fourth entering eye; 2 preoculars; 2 large postoculars; temporals 3 + 3; mental very small; 11 and 12 lower labials, first large, broadly in con- tact; first pair of chin shields small, broken, touching 3 labials; 254 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 53 scale rows around body; scales hexagonal or quadragonal, juxtaposed; ventrals scarcely differentiated; 4 preanals; tail greatly flattened. Color in aleohol._The 23 dorsal scale rows on body and head are dark brown, the 30 lateral and ventral rows, yellowish; tail barred above with 6 bands of brown, which reach down about halfway on side of tail; below with 7 similar bands alternating; rest of tail yellowish. Measurements of Pelamydrus platurus (Linneus). mm. Total length 540 Snout to vent 479 Tail 61 Greatest width of tail 15 Variation.—This species is extremely variable in color. Boulenger * recognizes seven color varieties; this specimen belongs to his variety E (Hydrus bicolor Schneider). The scales vary from 45 to 53 around the body; they are smooth in the young and in the females; in the males the laterals and ventrals are rough, with 1, 2, or 3 tubercles. Remarks.—This species is rare in the Philippines; the spec- imen described is one of the first records for Luzon. ELAPIN Tail cylindrical; hypapophyses more or less developed through- out the vertebral column. Poison fangs well developed, stand- ing erect and stationary. Deadly poisonous. This group contains the most dangerous snakes, notably the genus Naja the species of which are generally known as cobra or cobra di capello. There are more than thirty genera of the Elapine. Most of the genera are confined to Australia and New Guinea, with their near-by islands. They constitute the greater part of the Australian snakes. One genus is confined to North, Central, and South America, and is the only genus of the family in that territory. Three genera are known in the Philippines. Key to the Philippine genera of the Elapine. a, Vertebre of neck with long ribs which enable the distension of neck; poison gland confined to head; scales in 15 to 25 rows around body; internasal borders nostril... Naja Laurenti (p. 255). a. No elongate ribs on cervical vertebre; internasals not bordering nostril. b'. Seales in 15 rows; poison gland confined to head. Hemibungarus Peters (p. 268). * Catalogue, loc. cit. NAJA 255 b’. Scales in 13 rows; poison gland very elongate, entering far into ody: Cavitye-2. 2-5 he ie a MEN Doliophis Girard (p. 273). Genus NAJA Laurenti Naja LAURENTI, Syn. Rept. (1768) 90; Mrrrem, Tent. Syst. Amph. (1820) 147; DUMERIL and Brpron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1275; GUN- THER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 220; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 338; JAN, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 119; Borrtcer, Ber. Senck Nat. Ges. (1886) 116; CAsTo DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 439; STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 394. Naja, part., SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 461; Borg, Isis (1827) 537. Dendraspis FITZINGER, Syst. Rept. (1843) 28. Ureus WAGLER, Syst. Amph. (1830) 173. Aspis WAGLER, Syst. Amph. (1830) 173 (non Laurenti). Tomyris EICHWALD, Zool. Spec. 3 (1831) 171. Hamadryas (non Htibner) CANTor, Asiat. Res. 19 (1836) 87; GUN- THER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 218. Trimeresurus, part., DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1244. Pseudohaje GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 222. Ophiophagus GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 340; BorTrceEr, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 116; CasTo pE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Fili- pinas 1 (1895) 439. Naia BouLENGER, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 390; Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 372. “Maxillary extending beyond the palatine, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, and one to three small, faintly grooved teeth near its posterior extremity; mandibular teeth, anterior longest. Head not or but slightly distinct from neck ; eye moder- ate or rather large, with round pupil; nostril between two nasals and the internasal; no loreal. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, without pits, disposed obliquely, in 15-25 rows (or more on the neck) ; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate; subcaudals all or great- er part in two rows.” (Boulenger.) The genus Naja is distributed from Africa, over southern Asia and the Malay Archipelago. One species extends into Celebes. The larger part of the species is African. Two well-known and widely distributed species enter the Philippines. Key to the Philippine species of Naja Lawrenti. a. Scales in 19 to 21 rows on neck, 15 rows on body; 4 meters in length N. hannah (Cantor) (p. 256). a’. Scales in 21 to 35 rows on neck, 17 to 25 rows on body; 2 meters in DEM Or 0 1270] CSS eae ce eee eras Selle N. naja Linneus (p. 259). The second species is represented in the Philippines by three well-defined subspecies which, as Boulenger * states, “might be regarded as distinct species but for the absence of any sharp demarcation-lines between them.” * Catalogue, 381. 256 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS The cobra, or cobra di capello (Portuguese), which is the com- mon name for this group of snakes associated under the species Naja naja, is readily recognized by its habit of raising the ante- rior part of the body from the ground, and spreading the skin of the neck, when disturbed. The vertebre of the neck are equipped with elongate ribs. Usually, too, the snake emits a loud hissing noise when it strikes, and not infrequently squirts small jets of venom from its hollow fangs. This poison can be thrown at least 2 meters, but cannot do harm unless thrown into a fresh wound or into the eye. The eye thus poisoned becomes inflamed and a conjunctivitis results, sometimes causing blindness and even death. In Naja hannah the ability to spread the neck is probably much less developed than in N. naja. The food of the two species consists of snakes, lizards, and frogs. N. hannah appears to prey wholly on snakes of other species. Snakes of this genus are deadly poisonous to man, death usually ensuing a few hours after the individual is bitten. NAJA HANNAH (Cantor) PLATE 31, FIGS. 2 AND 3 Hamadryas hannah CANToR, As. Res. 19 (1836) 87. pls. 10-12. Naja bungarus SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 476, pl. 17, figs. 8, 9; SCHLEGEL and MULLER, in Temminck Verh. Overz. Bez. Nederl. Ind. Rept. (1844) 71, pl. 10; PeTers, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 690; Bov- LENGER, Fauna Brit: India, Rept. (1890) 3892, fig. 114; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 266. Hamadryas ophiophagus CANTOR, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1839) 323 Gat Mal. Rept. (1847) 116. Trimeresurus ophiophagus, part., DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1245. Hamadryas elaps GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 219. Trimeresurus bungarus JAN, Rev. and Mag. Zool. (1859) 129; Icon. Gén. (1873) 44, pl. 4. Naja (Hamadryas ?) fasciata Perers, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 689. Ophiophagus elaps GUNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 341; STo LIczKA, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 39 (1870) 210, pl. 11, fig. 7; AN- DERSON, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1871) 188; Fayrer, Thanatoph. Ind. (1874) pls. 7, 8; Borrrcer, Ber. Senck, Nat. Ges. (1886) 116; Ber. Offenb. Ver. Nat. (1888) 86; CAsTO DE ELerA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 440. Naja claps THEOBALD, Cat. Rept. Brit. India (1876) 209. Naja ingens VAN HasseEut, Versl. Ak. Amsterd. 17 (1882) 140. Ophiophagus fasciatus BoETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 117; CasTo DE ELrrA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 489. Hamadryas elaps FISCHER, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg 2 (1885) 81. Naja tripudians var. sumatrana MULLER, Verh. Nat. Ges. Basel 8 (1887) 277. Naia bungarus BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 386. NAJA 257 Description of species —(From No. 13, Bureau of Science col- lection; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, 1917, by C. M. Weber.) (Adult male.) Rostral barely visible from above, one and one- fifth times as wide as high; suture between internasals about half the length of scales; prefrontals larger than internasals, wider than long, drawn to a_ point laterally which nearly separates preocular from nasal; frontal about one-fifth longer than wide, as wide as but slightly narrower than supraoculars, equal to its distance from rostral; parietals very long, equal to their dis- tance from rostral, bordered by 2 large temporals and 2 large postparietals; nostril between 2 nasals and internasal; a small square preocular; 3 postoculars; temporals 2 + 3; 7 upper labials, fifth nearly as high as fourth; 8 lower labials; anterior chin py. 29. Naja hannah (Cantor): after shields wider but shorter than ee scahead dorsal view); Ux head: posterior, which are not separat- ed from each other; scales in 15 smooth rows about body, 21 rows about neck; ventrals 267; subcaudals 104 (8 undivided) ; anal single; length of eye contained in distance from eye to snout one and seven-tenths times. Color in alcohol.—Yellowish to olive brown above, the scales of posterior part of body edged with brown, growing darker and more pronounced on tail. Body traversed by a number of dim lighter bars, at least seventy, scarcely apparent on anterior part of body or tail; this coloration is due chiefly to the coloring of the skin between scales. Measurements of Naja hannah (Cantor). mm. Total length 2,315 Snout to vent 1,853 Tail 462 Length of head 45 Width of head 22 161465——17 258 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Variation.—Three islands are represented in the collection, and the following differences in scale formule are noted. These formule are compiled as averages from the table: Palawan, 2 aie four specimens, ae 262; 103; Mindoro, two specimens, re 248.5, 108; Luzon (Baguio), two specimens, 19, 250.5; 92.5, 15 The Palawan forms have a larger number of ventral scales than do those from the other two islands. I doubt whether these aver- ages would be maintained with large series. The total averages of ventrals and of subcaudals of the eight specimens are 256 and 101, respectively. Of the specimens listed by Boulenger the averages are: Ventrals, 249; subcaudals, 101. Thus it appears that the Philippine specimens have a slightly higher average of scales. Boulenger lists four color varieties, but these may be largely due to the various ages of the specimens. The young are always more vividly marked than the adults. Peter’s Ophiophagus fasciatus is probably founded on a young specimen. The number of undivided subcaudals varies; the specimens have a range of from 7 to 41, the one with the highest count being a TABLE 54.—Measurements and scale counts of Naja hannah (Cantor). No. | Locality. | Collector. | Sex. | Length. Tail. | ee — Pe een ee | | ey es | | | | | mm num. | 727 | Mindoro ' co | 1,610 345 | 251 | 12| Palawan 2 | 2,378 ss 266 | | Si oe COs cetcte seco tee zee fol | 2,315 462 | 267 | 14s SBapwlOhancoessconeteaekt oc sececancspeentis se oeassocs Ssesces c | 2,270 475 249 15 | Palawan fol 1, 955 465 | 251 | is ee do... 9 | 2,726 | 530 | 264 | 17 | Mindoro -- ' Marine Biological Expedition_ cs 2, 442 530 | 246 | {eI PBap aig weer | Heal: Gallet ona se 3 2, 620 | 540 | 252 i eile - | ; cod | Labials. Scale rows. | Undi- | Sub- | vided No | ae l = | sub- jE ostoes) Collection. | dals. | Upper.| Lower.| Neck. | Body. | oat in| eee eee - 727 | 112 7 | 8 19 15 41 3-4 | E. H. Taylor. 12 104 7 8 19 AB esessne 3 | Bureau of Science. 1B) 104 7 8 21 15 8 3 | Do. 14 90 aq-5 | 8 19 15 10 3 Do. | 15 102 7 | 8 19 15 aL 3 | Do. | 16 101 i 8 19 15 8 3 | Do. | a7) 104 7 8 17 15 | 3) Do. | 18 95 7| a| 19 15 33 | 3} Do. ® Abnormal. NAJA 259 a medium-sized specimen from Mindoro; this same specimen has 4 postoculars on the right side. The variation in color and markings is small, save that the narrow transverse bars are very dim or wanting in older speci- mens, and the color edging the scales on the tail is quite black. Remarks.—This snake grows to a large size in the Islands. A specimen collected in Balabac by Mr. C. M. Weber measured 4.25 meters, which I believe is the largest recorded specimen. Unfor- tunately its large bulk caused it to rot in the preserving fluid. It is reported as being very common on Lubang Island, north of Mindoro. I have not been able to verify this report. It prob- ably occurs on all the larger islands. It is striking, however, that I find no specimens recorded from the western Visayan islands (Bohol, Cebu, Negros, and Panay). In fact, no cobras of any sort have yet been recorded from those islands. NAJA NAJA Linnzeus The assemblage of subspecies now associated under this specific name is so large that I have not attempted to give a synonymic list of them. Synonymies for Philippine forms are given in the treatment of the individual subspecies. Key to the Philippine subspecies of Naja naja Linnzus. a’. Seale rows on neck, 19 to 21; on body, 17 to 19; ventrals, 165 to 178; subcaudals, 42 to 46. Black above with yellow reticulations or yellow dots; a few yellow anterior ventrals, behind which ventrals are dense | OLE Yo) caren enero Mery eee NPR rneten Slr eeRS OEE N. n. samarensis Peters (p. 259). a’. Scale rows on neck, 21 to 23; on body, 19; ventrals, 178 to 186; sub- caudals, 46 to 51. Black above and below with a yellowish V-shaped mark; young dense black with few whitish bars. N. n. miolepis (Boulenger) (p. 262). a’. Scale rows on neck, 25; on body, 21 to 23; ventrals, 187 to 196; sub- caudals, 39 to 47; uniform olive or olive brown; young, yellowish olive with darker reticulations........ N. n. philippinensis subsp. nov. (p. 265). NAJA NAJA SAMARENSIS Peters Naja tripudians var. F’., part., GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 225. Naja tripudians var. samarensis PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 690; BoETTGcER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 116. Naja tripudians GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 78; FIscHER, Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg 2 (1885) 81. Naia samarensis BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 385. Naja samarensis GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 266. Description of species—(From No. 427, E. H. Taylor collec- tion; collected at Bunawan, Agusan, Mindanao, June 25, 1913, by E. H. Taylor.) Rostral one and two-fifths to one and three- 260 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS fifths times as wide as high, the portion visible from above about one-fourth distance from frontal, sharply pointed behind, the sutures with nasals and labials subequal; the suture between in- ternasals much shorter than the length of the scales; prefrontals a little broader than long, as long as or a little longer than inter- nasals, the suture between them equal to the length of the scales; frontal one-sixth longer than wide, wider than supraocular but not quite so long, its length equal to its distance from rostral; parietals large, longer than wide, followed by a series of some- what enlarged occipital shields bordering parietals and tem- porals; 2 nasals, posterior highest, appearing very narrow in a lateral view; from an anterior view it appears larger than an- terior; 1 preocular reaching down to near middle of eye; 3 post- oculars, third well below eye; temporals 2 + 2; 7 upper labials, third highest, reaching height of middle of eye, third and fourth entering orbit, first 2 smallest; 8 lower labials, fourth and fifth largest, 4 touching first pair of chin shields; anterior chin shields much larger than posterior, which are separated from each other: ventrals, 165; anal single; subcaudals, 46; scales smooth in 19 rows around neck, 17 rows around body; eye moderately large, about half as long as snout. Color in life-—Above a dark, slightly iridescent, brownish black, with an indistinct yellowish netting, more prominent on posterior part of body; only a part of skin between scales yellow- ish; top of head olive-brown, sides of head and neck lighter, with a dim lighter line extending some distance along sides; lower part of upper labials, lower labials, chin, and first ten ventrals yellowish; eleventh to sixty-sixth ventrals black at first, but growing lighter toward end; ventrals behind these are yellowish, mottled with darker blotches; a median darker line below tail. Measurements of Naja naja samarensis Peters. mm. Total length 870 Snout to vent 725 Tail 145 Length of head 35 Width of head 21 Variation.—The six specimens in my collection from Mindanao, do not vary greatly among themselves in scalation. The amount and intensity of the dark coloring on the belly varies somewhat. All the specimens have the first few ventrals (usually nine) yel- lowish, although the color may cover only the first seven; after these the ventrals are an intense black, which color may continue back a third or more the length of body, growing gradually less NAJA 261 intense and lighter. In the young the black may cover as few as fifteen ventrals; also in the young the lighter line beginning on the hood appears more prominent. In all the specimens there is a small, lower labial inserted between the upper part of third and fourth lower labials bordering mouth; in the specimen de- scribed it is absent on one side. One specimen in the Bureau of Science, collected in Samar, has much more yellow on body; it is distributed in roundish spots on all the scales, the color rarely covering the entire scale, but frequently spots on two or three scales are confluent; the lateral light line is distinct in this adult specimen, and it has nineteen rows of scales around the body. The variation * in counts of scale rows on neck and body. and of ventrals and subcaudals, may be represented by the following formula: poe. 165 to 178; 42 to 50. Two specimens have two undivided subcaudals; there is some variation in the relative width and height of the rostral. TABLE 55.—Ieasurements and scale counts of Naja naja samarensis Peters. No. Locality. Collector. | nore “Length, | 6 See) Se =i mm. | yg 218 || 2 | &) g 810 J 870 o | 900 ye 339 R20) (Catbalozan,. Samari222s-25-2222222-MiGol (Cullen ==2s22c0c-3 akan hn S 9 1009 | & Sub- 5 - Scale rows. Nise | taels |e teas |e es Collection, eon | Body. Neck. | Cee OEE) | ee: Se LROE TE on! fy | eee | pew oe on | mm. | | | 23 45| 172 44 | 7) 8) a7! 19) B. H. Taylor. 24! 135] 172 46 | 7! Bi) iy 21| Do. 25 121 178 42 | mh 8 | 17 2 Do 26 145 165 46 uh 8 LT: 19 Do ; 2m | 145 172 45 7 8 17 19 Do | 28 55 178 44 7 8 17 19 Do. R20 156 175 43 7 | 8-9 19 | 21 Bureau of Science. | ea eee a Mutilated. I do not believe that the differences here recorded warrant giving this form specific designation while the other two forms, * Combining the data recorded in the table with those in Boulenger’s Cat- alogue, op. cit. 385. 262 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Naja naja miolepis and Naja naja philippinensis, are regarded only as varieties, as Boulenger has treated them. It is certain that all three should be regarded as distinct species if only Phil- ippine material were to be considered, as two of the forms, miole- pis and samarensis, appear to be isolated here, geographically, while the third invades the restricted territories of the other two. There appears to be no intergrading of any sort. Remarks.—This cobra is probably confined to the eastern Vi- sayan islands (Samar and Leyte) and Mindanao. It is common in the Agusan Valley. The specimens in my collections were found crawling in daytime in the forest or on the lawn about my house. When discovered they made no effort to escape, but us- ually stopped quiet; if disturbed they immediately raised their heads and spread their hoods. I did not observe them eject poison from their fangs, as is true of Naja naja philippinensis. A specimen from Zamboanga kept alive in the Bureau of Sci- ence has a very intrepid disposition and is disposed to put itself on the defensive at the approach of anything. It readily takes living frogs and snakes (Calamairia gervaisti) for food. Snakes, lizards, and frogs probably form its food under natural condi- tions.. The snake is deadly poisonous. Two large Berkshire pigs kept on an agricultural farm at Bunawan succumbed to bites of these snakes within a period of a few hours after being bitten. Among the Manobosg the snake is called aguason and is greatly feared. Several harmless snakes are also classed as aguason because of similarity in color. NAJA NAJA MIOLEPIS (Boulenger) PLATE 32 Naia tripudians BOULENGER, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. VI 14 (1894) 84. Naia tripudians var. miolepis BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 884. Naja naja miolepis GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sei. § A 4 (1909) 600; § D 6 (1911) 266; BArBour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. 44 (1912) 136. Description of species —(From No. 3, Bureau of Science col- lection; collected at Iwahig, Palawan, 1908, by C. M. Weber.) Rostral one and one-fifth times as wide as high, visible above, the part visible triangular; internasals about as large as pre- frontals, their greatest length along prefrontal suture, their mutual suture less than half their length, narrowly in contact with preocular; prefrontals wider than long, shorter than inter- nasals; frontal one and one-fifth times as long as broad, and one and a half times as wide as supraoculars, but equal in length, NAJA . 263 slightly shorter than its distance to end of snout; parietals much longer than wide; nostril vertical, between 2 nasals; a single small preocular; 3 postoculars (2 on left side) ; 2 anterior temporals, the lower nearly as large as parietals, narrowly separated from mouth; 3 posterior temporals; the scales bordering parietals and temporals slightly enlarged; 7 upper labials, third and fourth entering eye, third not reaching the height of middle of eye; Fic. 30. Naja naja miolepis (Boulenger) ; a, head, dorsal view; b, head, lateral view; c, chin; x1, labials in the following order of size: seventh, fifth, third, fourth, sixth, first, and second; 8 lower labials, with a small scale inserted between fourth and fifth bordering mouth (always present) ; anterior chin shields longer and wider than posterior, which are not separated; 4 labials touching first pair of chin shields; scales smooth in 23 rows on neck, 19 around body; ventrals, 182; sub- caudals, 46; anal single. Color in alcohol—Bluish to brownish black on body dorsally, and laterally slightly lighter below; the skin between the scales lighter; on latter half of body several dim, V-shaped, lighter bands cross body at distant intervals; head olive-brown, side of head and chin yellowish. A yellowish brown band on side of neck crossing anterior part. Measurements of Naja naja miolepis (Boulenger). mm. Total length ; 1,227 Snout to vent 1,050 Tail 177 Length of head 36 Width of head 23 Variation.—The young are deep black with a series of about 12 yellowish bands about body continuing to tip of tail; these 264 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS are darker on belly, but are usually distinct; the anterior ones are V-shaped on back; first 12 ventrals yellow; head yellow-brown, with a dark area on frontal and parietals. Four of the six speci- mens studied have only 2 preoculars on the left side and 3 on the right; one specimen has this reversed, and the other has the same number on each side. The average counts of scale rows on neck and body, of ventral and subcaudal scales, may be expressed in the following formula: ae: 178 to 186; 46 to 51. This, com- one 21-23 bined with the recorded counts of Boulenger,* gives 17-19? 178 to 199; 45 to 51. The Borneo specimens have 17 scale rows on body, while the Palawan forms have 19. There is a slightly higher average of ventrals in the Borneo forms. TABLE 56.—Measurements and scale counts of Naja naja miolepis | | | Labials. | Scale rows. | | (Boulenger) . aati | | 7 . | Sex | Viens No. Locality. Collector. or Length.) Tail. ears | age. | | ca | ir | | | mim. | mm. | | in Sad eal a warts oak ee ee Se ek Gan We | ¢ | 1180} 181! 180 | Dine wad ou Se tee a atie aes Pie aed sn wea|iaties doses aeons) | o& | 1,075] 160) 184 | 3 | do Aowteassescsasaal) Gore [ely “20 177 | 182 | lie | 186 | 60 | 178 | 35 | 186 | | | No. | Sub=_ | | —__, Post- * ‘caudals. | | oculars. Collection. Upper. | Lower. , Neck. | Body. | Doe ae en re cee Ne aN | | | | 1 51 7 | 9 23 | 19 | 2-3 | Bureau of Science. | Ree 48 7-8 | 9 | 21 | 19) 28 | Do. | S 46 7 | 9 23 19} 23 Do. | 4 41 78/89 23 | 19' 23] Do. 5 50 7 | 9 | 23 | 19 | 3| Do. ‘ 49 | 7 | 9| 28 | 19; 28] Do. Remarks.—This subspecies appears to be confined to Borneo and Palawan, and probably the other islands of the Palawan group. It is easily distinguishable from the other Philippine forms by the white markings on the young, and the dark uniform color of the adults. Griffin + states that the species is common in Palawan. * Op. cit. 384-385. y Philip. Journ. Sei. § A 4 (1909) 600. NAJA 265 NAJA NAJA PHILIPPINENSIS subsp. nov. Naia tripudians ceca, part., BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 883 (spec. o, highlands of Lepanto, N. Luzon). Naja naja ceca GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § A 4 (1909) 600; § D 6 (1911) 266. Description of species —(From No. 7, Bureau of Science col- lection; collected in Manila, by C. Canonizado.) (Adult fe- male.) Rostral one and three-fifths times as long as broad, the portion visible above less than one-fourth its distance from fron- tal; internasals about same size as prefrontals, in contact with preocular, the suture between them about half the length of the scales; prefrontals as wide as long, their shortest sides bordering frontal; latter one and one-fifth times as long as wide, its length equal to its distance from rostral, a little wider, but shorter, than supraocular ; parietals longer than wide; nostril between 2 nasals and internasal; a preocular present; 3 postoculars; temporals 2+2; 7 upper labials, third and fourth entering eye, third highest, not reaching level of middle of eye; 8 lower labials (counting a small scale inserted between fourth and fifth labials) ; anterior chin shields largest, touching 4 lower labials; posterior chin shields separated from each other; ventrals, 190; subcaudals, 43; anal single; scales smooth, in 21 rows about body; 25 rows around neck; eye more than half the length of snout. Color in life —Above yellowish to olive-brown, becoming slight- ly lighter on outer scale rows; below immaculate yellowish white to cream; no markings of any sort evident. Measurements of Naja naja philippinensis subsp. nov. mm. Total length 1,000 Snout to vent 860 Tail 140 Variation.—The young of this subspecies are dark brown to black, reticulated with a heavy network of light olive-yellow in distinct contrast; the head has a suggestion of darker markings; the neck is lighter, with irregular series of small round or longi- tudinal spots on each side; below, the belly is of a dirty light olive. The scales behind parietals are usually more or less enlarged. The variation of the scale counts is expressed in the following formula: neck and body rows, arr ventrals, 177 to 191; sub- caudals, 39 to 49. The average count is as follows: 5), 176, 44. Specimens Nos. 463 to 470 recorded in the table were hatched from eggs laid in the laboratory by specimen No. 481. The varia- 2°66 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS tions which obtain in this brood are striking; they are expressed Q9_9OF by the following formula: or, 177 to 191, 41 to 48; or an aver- age ventral and subcaudal count of 184 and 44, respectively. The 23 scale formula of the mother is 191, 39. Three of the young alles have the posterior chin shields in contact. Remarks.—The common Luzon cobra cannot be classed with either Naja naja cxca, as Griffin and Boulenger have done, or N. naja sputatrix, on the basis of either color or scale formula. The average scale counts given by Boulenger for N. naja cxca (exclusive of the two Javanese specimens and a specimen from : au 193, 66; N. naja sputatrix 2, 176, 47. Naja naja philippinensis approaches N. naja ceca in color, but varies markedly in the seale formula; it approaches N. naja sputatria in the scale formula, but varies markedly in color and markings. Several of these snakes are kept at the Bureau of Science for the purpose of extracting the venom from them for use in the man- ufacture of antivenom serums. In captivity some specimens take frogs and small snakes readily for food; others refuse all food, starving themselves to death. One female laid twelve eggs in the vivarium. These were re- moved and buried in moist earth. After a period of incubation of seven weeks the young emerged. The young snake on break- ing the egg, stuck out its head and by various movements made a burrow to the surface without emerging wholly from the egg. Thus with the body still in the egg and the head at the surface of the ground, it would remain for hours at a time unless dis- turbed, at which times it would withdraw wholly within the egg which still contained much liquor. On removing an egg and its living contents from under the ground and placing it on the sur- face, the young cobra would partially emerge and, with body erect for a length of several centimeters and hood distended, would hiss and strike at any object held near it. The young snakes did not leave the eges voluntarily until after three or four days. When this was done they immediately took refuge in a small jar of water placed in the cage, their bodies wrapped to- gether in the water in a mass and their snouts above the surface. Here they were to be found for a period of from eight to ten days, when they left the water and took refuge under small objects where they began the process of shedding. They touched no food during these early days of their life but did so as soon as the shedding was completed. Luzon) are NAJA 267 TABLE 57.—Measurements and scale counts of Naja naja philippinensis subsp. nov. | | Age | Collector, or | Length.) Tail. | sex. | | | ; mm. | mm. | 481 | 1,115 | 182 | 463 | 245] 47 | 464 | 345 | 50 465 | 364 | 56 | 466 | 825} 42 | 467 86 | 48 | 468° 311) 40 | 469 ¢ | 320) 41 | 470 | | | ve | 340 | 45 482 | Pampanga, Luzon._-___-----..--- (GUCLR CR Oieaks5-eecceh ae sesh er ----) | 1,120 | 143 edo "| 850 | 110 | o | 1,145 | 150 \. 3 | 1,290 | 170 : -----| o | 1,455 | 195 7 | Maril aioe ere es ene eer GC. Canonizado)<<-s0s22.5<<.52- reed eee) | 1, 000 | 140 8 Pampanga, Luzon____-..-..- SA ATENTWalliamaek mote cee Boe aes | ye | 345! 50 Ohi Palawan cit. 2h at tan Seat WeGzeMe. Weber. 2.22 22c ri cacd soon i YO. | 840 | 118 el WaiSchultzen--22--u 6: bie eo decels eke || 990 | 125 Morse Pel, 1,200 | 160 _.| College of Agr Ea Rea ae en age | eS Cov ai ee eee if i a ey wen a | Labials. (2dchin, Scale rows. ' Ven- Sub- | | shields | 1 Now raise: Cas, |p se = Veepacs (oP ree Collection. | | dals. Hee Teese rated. | Neck. | Body. | = eae reels ean HID | I =— —_ oe ; 481 191 | 39 | 7 | 9 | Yes 23 21 | Bureau of Science. 463-180 43 | 7 8| No 23 21 Do. 464) 9197 48 | 7 9| No 25 21 Do. 465/188) 44 | 7 9| No 23/21 Do. 466 190 43 | 7 8| Yes | 28 | 21 Do. 467 199 45 | 7 9| Yes 25/ 21 Do. 468 181 45 7 9/| Yes 25 | 21 Do. 469 191 41 7 9| Yes 23 21 Do. 470188 7 9} No 23 21 Do. 482 183, +40 q 9} Yes 25 21 Do 483 1g8} 4 7 9| Yes 25 21 Do 434 1394 1 9! Yes 23 21 Do. pan 3} 4g | 1 9! Yes 25) 21 Do [ees 191} 46 1 9) Yes 25/21 ; Do | 7 190) 48 7 8| Yes | 28 21} Do 8 190 47 7 9) Yes | 25 23 Do. | 9 190 47 | 7 9| Yes | = 25 21 | Do. | 10 188 | 39 7 9| Yes 25 21 | Do. | jes 188) 47 7| 9] Yes 25 21 Do. pice ee 184 49 | 7 9, Yes 25 21 Do. Pee 187 40 | 7 g| ves | 25 a1 | College of Agriculture. | | ibe 186 40 | 7 | 9| Yes | 25 21| —~Do. 268 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS They were fed tadpoles or young frogs, which they would seize and hold some time, and then begin the process of swallowing. They frequently bit each other, and on two ocasions one was found engaged in swallowing one of its brothers; one was with- drawn that had been half swallowed, and it recovered. The young lived for about two months when an epidemic appeared among them and all died. A young specimen, five days old, bit a guinea pig, which suc- cumbed in twenty-two minutes. These snakes are’ poisonous, and probably cause more deaths than any other snake in the Philippines. The subspecies is found very commonly in Luzon, and it occurs in Palawan and probably in other large islands. Genus HEMIBUNGARUS Peters Elaps, part., DUMERIL and BriBRoN, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1191; GUN- THER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 229; Jan, Rev. and Mag. Zool. (1858) 516. Brachyrhynchus F1Tzincrer, Syst. Rept. (1843) 28. Callophis, part., GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1859) 81. Hemibungarus PETERS, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1862) 637; BortTtcrrR, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 117; BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 892; Casto pE Evera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 440;, STEJNEGER, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 387. “Maxillary bone extending forwards beyond the palatine, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs and one to three small solid teeth; mandibular teeth subequal. Preefrontal bones in contact with each other on the median line. Head small, not distinct from neck; eye small, with round pupil; nostril between two nasals; no loreal. Body cylindrical, much elongate; scales smooth, without pits, in 13 or 15 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail short; subcaudals in two rows.” (Boulenger.) Key to the Philippine species of Hemibungarus Peters. a’. Temporals 2 + 3; 6 upper labials. b'. Second labial not touching preocular. H. calligaster (Wiegmann) (p. 269). b*. Second labial touching preocular..... H. meclungi sp. nov. (p. 272). a’, No temporals; 7 upper labials, sixth forming a suture with parietal. H. collaris (Schlegel) (p. 269). The genus Hemibungarus is a small, compact one, with few species. The three species given in the key are confined to the Philippines. Another species, H. nigrescens, is found in India, and two others, A. japonicus and H. boettgeri, are found on near- by archipelagoes to the north. The snakes are poisonous. They HEMIBUNGARUS 269 appear to be rather rare in the Philippines. The name oro-odto (Bohol-Visayan) is applied to this snake. It is probable that the names camamalo and palapal are also referable to this species. HEMIBUNGARUS COLLARIS (Schlegel) Elaps collaris SCHLEGEL, Phys. Serp. 2 (1887) 448; Abbild. (1844) 187, pl. 46, figs. 10-11; Jan, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 114; Icon. Gén. (1878) 43, pl. 1, fig. 1. Elaps gastrodelus DUMERIL and BIBRON, Erp. Gén. 2 (1854) 1212. Hemibungarus collaris Borerrcrer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 117; BOULENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 393; Casto DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 440; Grirrin, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 266. Description of species —(From Boulenger.) ‘‘Rostral broader than deep, just visible from above; internasals shorter than the prefrontals; frontal once and a half as long as broad, as long as its distance from the rostral, as long as the parietals; one pree- and two postoculars; seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye, sixth largest and forming a suture with the parietal; anterior chin-shields in contact with the symphysial and with four lower labials; posterior chin-shields as long as the anterior. Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals 228-230; anal divided; subcaudals 12-22. Blackish above, barred black and red below; a yellowish occipital collar.” Measurements of Hemibungarws collaris (Schlegel). mm. Total length 430 Snout to vent 415 Tail 15 Remarks.—lI have seen no specimen of this snake. Obviously it ig very rare, and none appears to have been taken in recent years. The only definite locality known is Manila, recorded by Jan. Only a few specimens are known. The species is deadly poisonous. HEMIBUNGARUS CALLIGASTER (Wiegmann) PLATE 33, FIGS. 1 AND 2; PLATE 34, FIGS. 1 AND 2 Elaps calligaster WIEGMANN, Nova Acta Acad. Leop.-Carol. I 17 (1835. 258, pl. 20, fig. 2; DuMERIL and Bripron, Erp. Gén. 7 (1854) 1226; GUNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 231; JAN, Icon. Gén. (1873) 48, pl. 2, fig. 2; Rev. & Mag. Zool. (1859) 510; Prerers, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1861) 689. Callophis calligaster GUNTHER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1859) 83. Hemibungarus calligaster Mpyer, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1869) 213; MUL- LER, III. Nacht. Cat. Herp. Samml. Basel Mus. (1883) 18; FISCHER, 270 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Jahrb. wiss. Anst. Hamburg 2 (1885) 81; Borrrcer, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 117; BouLENcER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 393; CAsTO DE EveraA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 440; GRIFFIN, Philip. Journ. Sci. § D 6 (1911) 266. Hemibungarus gemianulis Peters, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1872) 587. Callophis gemianulus MULLER, Verh. Nat. Ges. Basel 7 (1883) 289, Hemibungarus gemmiannulis BoETTGER, Ber. Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 117; CASTO DE ELERA, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 441. Description of species —(From No. 231, E. H. Taylor collec- tion; collected at Iloilo, Panay, 1914, by Archie L. Howard.) Head not distinct from neck; rostral a little broader than deep, narrowly visible above, forming its broadest suture with nasal; internasals broader than deep, the suture between them about half their width, bordering upper edge of nostril; prefrontals broader than deep, the left forming a short suture with right internasal, forming equal sutures with posterior nasal and upper preocular; frontal nearly twice as long as wide, wider and longer than supraoculars, longer than its distance from end of snout; parietals much longer than frontal, nearly twice as long as wide, touching upper postocular and 3 temporals; 2 nasals, anterior twice as large as posterior, eee surrounding nostril; no lo- real *; 2 preoculars, upper much the larger; eye small, not wider than its distance from mouth; 2 postoculars, lower largest, tem- porals 2+ 2+ 2, upper anterior touching both postoculars; 6 upper labials in the following order of size: fifth, sixth, third, fourth, second, first; third and fourth entering eye; 7 lower la- bials, first 4 in contact with anterior chin shields which are twice as large as posterior pair; body scales in 15 longitudinal rows, smooth, without apical pits, outer rows largest; ventrals, 197; anal very wide, single; subcaudals, 20 pairs; body cylindrical, tail short and thick, ending in a rather sharp-pointed scute. Measurements of Hemibungarus calligaster (Wiegmann). mm. Total length 462 Snout to vent 427 Tail 35 Length of head 12 Width of head 8.5 Color in alcohol_—Above black-blue, traversed by 68 narrow, dotted rows of yellowish white (red in life?) ; head blue-black, the color extending down on side of head involvi ing eye, the entire fourth and fifth labials, and the edges of their adjoining scales; snout yellowish; chin cream, the color extending to SEDTOE nen et It is probable that the second sal is really a loreal element. HEMIBUNGARUS 271 porals, a black spot on fourth lower labial; tail flesh pink with 2 broad bluish bands, each divided by a very narrow light line, and separated from each other by 7 transverse scale rows; belly barred bluish black and cream (red in life). Variation—The Bureau of Science collection contains seven specimens ; among these very marked vayviation in color obtains in specimens of different ages. The scale formule are rather uni- form, with the exception of the wide range in ventral counts. The ventrals vary between 197 and 257; the subcaudals, between 19 and 23. TABLE 58.—Measurements and scale counts of Hemibungarus calligaster (Wiegmann). 7 | _ S — = —= — = a al | Til a Penp Pee | | 4 z | No. | Locality. Collector. ae ee : = | | 3 | a} 2 | n yile > to | F<, Pz | pares apa te a | anna — “at mm. | mm 21 | Calauan, Laguna _.......----------- R.C. McGregor --.-..------.) ¢ | 625) 3 | 228 22 | Mount Banahao, Laguna M. L. Merritt___ 322 22.5 | 286 23 Samal, Bataan _-_--._-_---.---------- A... Gelestino\.