78 



and slightly shorter than parietals ; one or two 

 praeoculars reaching upper surface of head ; two 

 postoculars ; eight upper labials, third, fourth and 

 fifth entering eye ; four lower labials in contact 

 with anterior chin shields. Body strongly com- 

 pressed. Scales in 19 or 21 rows, slightly slanting; 

 vertebral scales much enlarged, nearly as broad as 

 long in middle of body. Ventrals 214-249; anal 

 entire; subcaudals 90-117 . Tail prehensile. 



Colour, brown, with black heart-shaped marks, 

 sometimes terminating in dorsal streaks, along the 

 vertebrae. Black blotch or bars on neck, a dark 

 streak from eye to eighth upper labial. Ventrals 

 yellowish and dotted brown. Grows to four feet 

 three inches. 



This snake is nocturnal, and is often found in 

 the thatched roofs of houses. Being of the back- 

 fanged order, it is only slightly poisonous. It 

 becomes very tame in captivity. 



Dipsas Barnesii. 



Resembles the above, but has eye as long as 

 snout ; three praeoculars, fourth and fifth upper 

 labials entering eye. Scales in 19 rows, hardly 

 oblique, vertebrals slightly enlarged. Ventrals 

 220, and subcaudals 99. It grows to 21 inches. 



Colour, greyish brown, with lighter black- 

 edged transverse spots, black dorsal spots, black 

 band behind the eye, and labial suture blackish. 

 Ventrals white, powdered brown. 



Dipsas Forstenii. 



Very much like Dipsas Ceylonensis, but has 

 eye as long as snout. Frontal longer than its 

 distance from end of snout ; sometimes three 

 postoculars ; eight to eleven upper labials, third, 

 fourth, fifth, or fourth, fifth and sixth entering 



