318 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X VIII. 



(Vol. XVII., pp. 861-2.) It is perhaps remarkable that no highly 

 ornamented varieties were met with when one considers the bril- 

 liancy of the red adornment in the ■ species subminiatus and hima- 

 layanus collected in these Hills. 



Breeding. — The first point deserving mention is the lateness of the 

 breeding season in these Hills as compared with that in the plains. 

 In Shillong eggs were hatching in August and late in September, 

 whereas in Dibrugarh this year they were hatching in June. It 

 seems to me one should expect rather the reverse, for where the 

 climate is temperate, and the cold season severer, and more pro- 

 tracted, it would seem important to the life of the offspring that they 

 should be cast adrift early, to allow of their obtaining an ample 

 sustenance to prepare them for the period of hibernation. 



Eggs. — On the 8th of August, 10 eggs were brought to me, 

 measuring from 1^ to l^V inches. An embryo was extracted 

 from one which proved to be 5| inches long. On the 2nd September 

 another was extracted, which was 1\ inches long. On the 8th 

 September one hatched ; 3 more hatched on the 14th, 2 on the 16th, 

 1 on the 17th, and the last on the 18th. These hatchlings varied 

 in length from 7£ to 8^ inches. 



The exit apertures in the eggs were very variable in number and 

 extent. In one egg there were as many as 6 cuts, more or less 

 parallel in direction, the longest over half an inch long. In another 

 there was but one cut and this only a quarter of an inch in length, 

 through which the embryo had managed to squeeze itself. 



Young. — In August I obtained 12 of this year's progeny measuring, 

 from 6f to 9^ inches. In September I got o hatchlings from 1\ to 

 9^ inches in length, the smallest of which was obtained as late as the 

 22nd. 



In the specimens I hatched out, the foetal tooth was plainly to be 

 seen and felt. Its attachment is firm. Seen in profile, it is hardly 

 or not apparent, as it does not project beyond the rostral; in fact, this 

 shield must be flattened to permit of this structure being brought into 

 use. The cutting edge, which is directed forwards, is seen to be 

 practically bidentate owing to a shallow, but broad, median emargina- 

 tion. A figure is given showing its position, and form on page 501 

 of this issue, contrasted with a similar structure in the Indian slow- 

 worm. 



