160 COLUBRIDtE 



often approach farms during the period of oviposition. 

 Holes near baking ovens at the back of village houses 

 are sometimes selected as breeding resorts. The 

 female rolls herself up, and by violent contortions 

 makes a sort of chamber in the manure, in which 

 she may remain for some days after the eggs have 

 been produced. It is not very unusual for several 

 females to congregate for the purpose of laying, and 

 as many as 1,200 eggs have been found in the same 

 hole. The young on emerging has lost the um- 

 bilical cord, and measures 6 to 8J inches. It often 

 remains for a considerable time, sometimes until 

 the following spring, in the hole or manure-heap in 

 which it was born, feeding principally on worms. 

 Very young specimens are never found in the water. 



4. Tropidonotus tessellatus, Laurenti 



(Coluber hydrus, Pallas) 



The Tessellated Water-Snake 



Form. — Rather slender; head rather long and 

 narrow; snout obtuse, not prominent; eyes and 

 nostrils directed upwards and outwards, the former 

 rather small, the latter somewhat valvular. Tail 

 four to six times in the total length. 



Head-Shields. — Rostral broader than deep, visible 

 from above. Nasal often semidivided. Internasals 

 usually as long as broad or longer, subtriangular, 

 truncate in front, as long or nearly as long as the 



