566 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI. 



Anal y lands. — These glands furnish an opaque yellowish fluid. 



Parasites. — One specimen was infested with little scarlet mites appar- 

 ently similar to those already alluded to which had attached themselves to 

 specimens of Macropisthodon plumbicolor. 



Lepidosis. — The labials in one were 10 in number on the left side. The 

 temporals in one were three anteriorly on the right side. 



Dentition. — The maxilla supports anteriorly 3 teeth progressively in- 

 creasing in size, then 2 elongate subequal teeth about twice the size of the 

 3rd. After these there is an edentulous space that would take about 3 

 teeth. This is followed by from 9 to 11 small isodont teeth after which 

 come 2 more elongate teeth about twice the length of the preceding. The 

 palatine array number 13 to 17, the pterygoid 21 to 27. The mandibles 

 have anteriorly 3 progressively increasing teeth, and then 2 elongate about 

 twice the length of the 3rd. A small gap that would take about 2 teeth is 

 followed by a series of small isodont teeth numbering 19 to 20. 



The Dhaman — Zaocys viucosus (Linnc). 



This species 88 of which were acquired is a fairly common snake even 

 at 6,000 feet elevation. It is probable a very much larger number would 

 have been sent me had I not stipulated that such a bulky snake was not to 

 be included. Nearly all the specimens sent me were in consequence quite 

 young. 



Food. — I remarked in my popular article in this Journal dealing with 

 this snake that it was a gourmand with very varied tastes. This is fidly 

 borne out by these specimens. One had eaten a mouse, four others frogs, 

 too digested to recognise, one a single l.valus, one four Ixalus, and another 

 six l.valus. One contained an Lialus rariabilis, and a skink of the genus 

 Maburia. Another had swallowed a Bufo melanostictus, and a lizard of the 

 genus Lyyosoma. 



Breediny. — There are no breeding events to chronicle, but a female o 

 feet 10 inches in length, and in a very emaciated condition was killed in 

 Coonoor on the 27th of June with a large swelling that proved to be an 

 vinfertilised egg. This measured 2| inches in length, and 1 inch in breadth, 

 and weighed just under ^ of an ounce. The hatching season in these Hills 

 is evidently in the early months of the year probably March to May as may 

 be judged by the dimensions of specimens brought in, coupled with the 

 fact that this species is known to be about 14^ to 16^ inches when emerg- 

 ing from the egg. Young of the year measuring 19f to 20^ inches (4) 

 were captured in June, 17^ to 20f inches (9) in July, 18 to 23 inches (19) 

 in August, and 18f to 22 inches (6) in September. 



The Trinket Snake — Coluber helena (Daudin). 



One of the snakes called " kattu viriyan" (meaning "banded snake'") by 

 the Tamils. The total for this species was 107. it does not appear to 

 favour an altitude above about 5,000 feet. 



Sexes. — Of those in which sex is recorded 26 were S and 18 $ . 



Food. — There were surprisingly few that had recently fed. A mouse had 

 been swallovved by four examples, and masses of hair were found in the 

 cloaca of a fifth. A frog of the genus I.ralus constituted the meal in one 

 case. 



Breediny. — No single 2 showed any enlargement of the ovarian follicles. 

 This may be accounted for possibly by my asking those helping me not to 

 put large snakes into the tins supplied, as they take up so much room and 

 expend so much spirit. 



