NOTES ON SNAKES COLLECTED IN UPPER ASSAM. filp, 



In some of the giaviti 9 9 '* '"^•i'^ observed that some eggs were particoloured 

 having a cinereous suft'iision on one aspect. It was also observed that the 

 pigmented patch had lain in opposition to a distended part of the intestine — 

 and there seems little doubt that this colouration is due to absorption from the 

 intestinal contents. I suspect that it is derived from pigment in the batrachian 

 epidermis. 



On the 21st May 1907 I received two large clusters of eggs of this species 

 both unearthed in hoeing operations on a tea estate. One of these like a 

 bunch of grapes contained 75 eggs. I extracted a $ embryo which measured 

 4| inches. The ventrals numbered 149, of which the 21st to 27th lay 

 beneath the heart and the 84th beneath the gall bladder. A median raphe on 

 the belly marked the union of the parietes, but the bond of union was so 

 delicate that the slightest touch ruptured it, and allowed the viscera to pro- 

 trude. The oviducts could be seen arising from just before the gall bladder 

 and passed backwards as two tortuous, vermiform, white threads. 



These embryos began to hatch on the 14th of June. I examined 8 of these 

 critically. 6 were 9 9 and 2 $ $. The 9 9 varied in length from 6| to 7| 

 inches, the average being a shade under 7i inches. It will thus be seen that 

 these embryos grew at the rate of a little more than three inches in 24 days. 

 The veuti-alsin the 9 specimens varied from 150 to 152, in the $ from 141 to 

 145. The subcaudals in the 9 9 ranged from 81 to 87 and in the $ $ from 

 91 to 95. 



On the heads of all these specimens was a pair of small light spots one on 

 each parietal, opposite the middle of the interparietal suture. I have observed 

 these, I think, in all other hatclilings of this species, but they seem soon to 

 disappear. In one of these specimens the 3rd subcaudal was entire. All of 

 these were conspicuously spotted as in variety quinounciatus except one in 

 which the black spots were obscure. The foetal tooth could not be seen in 

 profile, but could be felt when searched for. 



In the second cluster there were 30 odd eggs. I extracted an embryo two 

 inches in length. The upper jaw was very imperfect and slightly cleft mesially. 

 I could see no other gill arches though two sulci in the neck seemed to 

 indicate the position of the 2nd and 3rd clefts. Immediately behind the 

 rudimentary lower jaws lay the heart which could be obsei"ved pulsating. 



These eggs shrivelled and the rate of growth of the embryos could not be 

 ascertained. Some sepoys brought me in another clutch of eggs in the middle 

 of June found in the river bank and reported that a snake was coiled up with 

 them but escaped. 



It will be seen that this species is common all the year round, more so in 

 the hot weather. 



This snake is usually infested with many parasites. The abdominal cavity 

 IS often teeming with an immature form of tapeworm which usually lies up 

 under the lining membrane in a convoluted mass so large as to cause flattish 

 blister-like swellings beneath the skin. 



