330 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XVIII 



colour to blue had taken place, which makes me think it probable 

 that the godfathers (Dumeril and Bibron) did not see the type speci- 

 men in life. 



P&ammodynastes pulverulentus. 



18 examples, 9<£, 8 9,1 unsexed. The largest a 9, 2 teet and 

 | of an inch. Ventrals, $ 158 to 166, 9 160 to 173. Subcaudals, 

 $ 52 to 68, 9 53 to 65. The scales are 17 anteriorly, 17 in mid- 

 body, and 15 posteriorly. The reduction from 17 to 15 is due to an 

 absorption of the 4th row above the ventrals, either into the row 

 above or below. 



Food. — Lizards and frogs. I found the following lizards " in 

 gastro," Ptyctoloema gularis, Lygosoma indica, on two occasions, and 

 a tail which from its length and colour probably belonged to Calotes 

 jerdoni. The frogs taken on two occasions were too digested to 

 identify. 



Breeding. — A small specimen, 1\ inches long, is evidently this 

 year's production. It was brought in on the 21st September, but I 

 am unaware as yet of the length of the young at birth, another 8j '' 

 long was obtained in October (I have lately in this Journal report- 

 ed the viviparous habit of this species). 



A 9 on th e 18th September contained some ovarian follicles 

 which appeared to me from their colour and size to be impregnated, 

 and another on the 19th September led me to the same conclusion. 

 In the latter some of these measured ^ of an inch. 



If my assumption is correct, it is a remarkable circumstance. I 

 met with one specimen only in my walks abroad, though it is one of 

 the commonest snakes about Shillong. I succeeded in capturing it 

 after some trouble, as it made strenuous efforts to evade me, and 

 showed much activity and spirit. Knowing well the character of 

 the species I was dealing with, I had to treat it with due respect 

 and caution. 



Subfamily 8. — Elapin^e. 

 Naia tripudians. 



A $ , 5 feet 2 inches long, was brought to me on the 18th August. 

 Ventrals, 187. Subcaudals, 52. The scales were 25 anteriorly, 23 in 

 midbody, and 15 posteriorly. Colour uniform olive-brown. The 

 hood-mark as shown in the accompanying figure is a modification of 

 the monocellus typical of variety fasciata (Gray). 



