75 



the body, and a parallel series of dorsal spots^ 

 sometimes with a black, white-edged collar. A 

 vertical black streak below eye, and an oblique one 

 behind it. Ventrals yellowish, sometimes with a 

 few small black spots. 



A very gentle snake, with a peculiar habit of 

 encircling and holding its prey in its coils. It 

 does not crush its prey, but merely holds it in this 

 manner while getting its teeth fixed on the head. 

 Unlike the python, it encircles its prey by coiling 

 its body round it, instead of rolling over and round 

 it, as is the case with the Boidae. 



Dendrophis Pictus. 



Head distinct from neck, and elongate. Eye 

 large, with round pupil. Frontal as long as its 

 distance from the end of the snout, as long as the 

 parietals, or a little shorter ; one praeocular, two 

 or three postoculars. Nine or ten upper labials, 

 fifth and sixth, or fourth, fifth and sixth entering 

 the eye ; five lower labials in contact with the 

 anterior chin shields. Scales in 15 rows, smooth, 

 with apical pits, vertebrals as large as outer row. 

 Ventrals 167-205 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 

 1 10- 1 50, in two rows. Body elongate and com- 

 pressed. Grows to four feet. 



Colour, olive or bronze above, with yellow 

 vertebral band along one-third of the anterior 

 portion of the body. Yellow longitudinal dorsal 

 streaks. Epidermis (between the scales) bright 

 blue near neck. Black streak from eye to lip, 

 which is yellow. Ventrals yellowish or pale 

 greenish. 



A timid and swift-moving snake, found on 

 trees and bushes. 



Tropidonotus Ceylonensis . 



Head distinct from neck. Eye moderate or 



