NOTES ON SNAKES COLLECTED IN FYZABAD. 113 



tail only of a skink (spec. Mabuia ?) had been swallowed by twc 

 examples. 



Breeding.— K male and a female were caught together (not united) 

 on the 9th of January in the bottle godown of the club. I found eggs 

 in abdomina once in March, once in April, once in June, and 

 three times in July, and obtained a hatchling 7f " long in June. The 

 number of eggs varied from 3 to 9. 



Scale characters. — In no single instance was the anal entire. The 

 contact of the prseocular with the frontal though usual failed in several 

 specimens. The upper labials (prone to more or less inconstancy in all 

 species) were aberrant in some instances. They were 8 with the 3rd 

 and 4 th only touching the eye on the left side in one specimen, and 

 9 with the 4th and 5th only touching the eye on the left side in one 

 specimen, and 9 with the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6tb, touching the eye on both 

 sides in one specimen. 'Ihe ventrals show a decided tendency to exceed 

 those in southern examples. My records of these shields, however, 

 are very imperfect. 



$ Ventrals 193 to 207. Subcaudals 62 to 71. 

 9 „ 201 to 208 „ 62 to 69. 



In Cannanore they were as follows : — 



$ Ventrals 177 to 186. Subcaudals 63 to 73. 

 9 „ 192 to 203 „ 55 to 70. 



Colour. — All the specimens were of one variety, which if one 

 excludes the spotted or unspotted condition of the upper labials I would 

 refer to Mr. Boulenger's variety D (Catalogue, Vol. I, 1893, p. 353). 

 I do not think any attention should be paid to the labial spots. ] 

 find specimens otherwise identical in colour, and marks show the uppei 

 labials unspotted, and between this and the condition of large central 

 brown spots there are individuals showing every gradation from a fine 

 and sparse to a copious mottling of brown. Every specimen was 

 Darred with yellow, usually a pronounced canary yellow, but sometimes 

 with a faint yellowish tinge, but never pure white. 



Zamenis mucosus. 



Of this common species I had 80 brought in to me. Of the 76 

 that were sexed, 43 were males and 33 females. They were most in 

 evidence during the months of June, July and August, and in fact 

 were scarce during the whole of the rest, of the year. 



Of specimens exceeding 6 feet 6 inches in length 22 were males 



15 



