A POPULAR TREATISE ON INDIAN SNAKES. 13 



solitary foetus. I am inclined to think from observations on other 

 snakes that the oldest mothers are the most fecund. 



On two occasions at Trevandrum Major Dawson tells me that the 

 mother died on the 3rd day after parturition, but this must be con- 

 sidered a coincidence. It is certain that the mother usually survives 

 the advent of her brood, and one may presume lives to produce 

 others. 



Genital organs. — The ovaries are long, and the follicles loosely 

 strung together. In one mother 4 feet 9 inches in length the ovaries 

 were 6^ inches long. 



The male genitals are peculiar. The clasper on each side is bifid, 

 a character I believe to be lound in all vipers. I have also observed 

 the same condition in the sea-snakes, but not in any other colubrines. 

 In a male 3 feet 7 inches in length, the main stem of each clasper 

 was about half an inch long. 



Hatchlings. — The young at birth vary from about 8-| to 11 inches. 

 I very much suspect that the living embryos referred to by 

 Stoliczka as 3 or 4 inches long* were not actually measured by him but 

 their length guessed at. 



The young usually rupture the sacs in which they are developed, 

 before birth, that is, whilst still within the maternal abdomen. They 

 then enter the world perfectly free. It is not unusual, however, for 

 some or all of a brood to be born in cauls which they subsequently 

 rupture. In a case alluded to by Mr. Phipson the hatchlings did not 

 effect their escape till the day after deposition, a circumstance extremely 

 remarkable, and to me inexplicable. Drowning would appear the 

 inevitable consequence of any delay in such cases. According to 

 Colonel Bannerman under these conditions the sac is split into 2 

 halves like a mussel shell. The young frequently cast their skins 

 shortly after birth, often within a few hours. After birth they congre- 

 gate, and lie together in a confused heap in captivity, but in nature 

 very soon disperse. Their food is probably the same as adults. A 

 young one I caught in Cannanore on a pot plant in a verandah, 

 10£ inches in length, had just swallowed a mouse. 



I have collected 21 breeding notes from various sources which 1 

 append in tabular form. 



* See accompanying schedule of breeding events. 



