COLLECTION OF SNAKES IN THE NILOIRI HILLS. 



561 



Beddome's grass snake for Lvalus variabilis by far the commonest species, I 

 found inhabiting marshy ground, or water cuts where arum lilies and wild 

 caladiums grew. The hollow stems of these plants where they embrace the 

 stalk were found tenanted by this frog in great numbers. 



Breeding. — Many examples were egg-bound, and these are best tabu- 

 lated. It will be observed that of the 21 gravid females, 16^ inches was the 

 smallest length, and 27 J inches the largest. From 5 to 9 eggs are 

 usually produced, but they varied from 3 to 11. The embryos attain 

 some degree of development before oviposition. It will be seen later that 

 young of the year commenced to appear in June, and continued to the 

 month of September. The fact that many females were egg-bound in 

 the latter month shows that the season for the young to hatch extends 

 probably to November. 



