SNAKES FROM THE KHASI HILLS, ASSAM. 315 



Family 7.— COLUBRID.E. 



Subfamily 2. — Colubbin^e. 

 Polyodontophis collaris. 



I acquired 24 specimens, 12 9 , 10 $ and 2 not sexed. The largest 

 a 9 measured 2 feet 8 inches. 



Food. — Only two had recently fed. One contained " in gastro " the 

 tip of a snake's tail, peculiar in that the subcaudals were entire, and 

 it is probable that the species is one hitherto unknown to science. 

 The other had eaten a skink, Lygosoma indica. 



Breeding. — Two specimens were doubtless this year's progeny — 

 one obtained on the 10th September, measuring 9 inches ; the other 

 on the 15th September, 10 inches. It was noticed that the secretion 

 of the anal glands in the former was 'abundant, and odoriferous as in 

 adults, and this is in consonance with my observations regarding 

 many other species, which makes me doubtful whether these glands 

 are associated with the sexual functions at all, as is assumed by 

 Darwin* and others. The secretion of these glands in collaris is 

 custardlike in colour and consistency. 



Shield characters. — The scales are 17 in the wnole body length. 

 With two exceptions, the supralabials were 10, the 4th, 5th and 

 6th touching the eye, and the 10th largest. This last is an impor- 

 tant feature, which, taken in conjunction with the number of the 

 labials will, I believe, suffice to identify this from all other Indian 

 Snakes. The temporals were alike in all, a single anterior shield 

 being in contact with the 8th only of the supralabial series. The 

 ventrals in the 9 varied from 168 to 179, in the $ from 168 to 174. 

 Subcaudals, 9 103 to 112, $ 107 to 118. At least 10 specimens 

 had the tail imperfect. 



Anomalies. — The last ventral was divided in 2 specimens. The 

 supralabials were 9 in 2 specimens on the left side only, in one the 

 4th and 5th only and in the other the 6th also touched the eye. 



In all specimens the rufous collar was very conspicuous. Though 

 usually very sombre in its dorsal colouration, some specimens were 

 enlivened with a rich ruddy glow in the dark brown. The belly 

 was bright yellow, and merged into a bright carrotty-red at the 

 edge of the ventrals. 



* Descent of Man, p. 539. 

 12 



