782 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIX. 



its liberty the next, and is lost among the branches of the nearest 

 tree. Mr, E. E. Green says that specimens be has kept have always 

 been quite gentle and never attempted to bite when handled. Dr. J. B. 

 Henderson, in a recent letter to me, remarks that in captivity it 

 becomes very tame and inoffensive. Mr. Ingleby quoted by Fergu- 

 son says that it is a very lively, and plucky snake, and the fact that 

 Mr. E. E. Green found one devouring a large blood-sucker lizard 

 (Calotes versicolor), a most truculent creature when brought to bay 

 sufficiently establishes its reputation for courage, when hunger presses. 



Habits. — In a former paper of this series I made some remarks 

 upon " flying " snakes (Under Chrijsopelea ornata in Vol. XIII). It 

 is probable that the common Indian bronze-back can undertake feats 

 of the same nature, for it is endowed with the same peculiar ridges on 

 the belly, that are seen in Chrysopelea ; further, its close ally Dendro- 

 phis jiirtus is one of those snakes that has been reported to spring 

 (fly) from heights. So tar as tristis is concerned, however, the 

 evidence, though suggestive is not so well authenticated. Though 

 neither Dr. Willey nor Mr. E. E. Green are aware of any native 

 stories of springing or " flying " snakes in Ceylon, Pridham* speaks 

 of a snake called by the natives " ahedoella, " and says : " The move- 

 ments of this snake are rapid, and from its power of springing it is 

 called a flying snake." The evidence seems pretty clear therefore 

 that a " flying " snake exists in Ceylon, but there would appear to be 

 a mistake in the diagnosis ol' the species for '' ahedoella" is the 

 Singalese name for the green whip-snake. ( Dryophus mycteri- 

 zans) a far commoner snake which has no reputation for springing 

 as far as I am aware in any of the Provinces included within its 

 wide distribution, and has an entirely different confonnation of belly 

 shields. So far as Southern India is concerned Dr. J. R. Henderson 

 tells me that " There is a common belief that D. pictus (by which 

 he means D. tristis) can jump, but I have never seen it do so. " 



Its movements are suqjrisingly rapid as already remarked. It is 

 truly astonishing with what speed it can ascend an almost bare tree 

 trunk from the ground, and disappear in the branches above. I 

 have seen this several times, and it has always struck me that its speed 

 in ascent is as rapid as its movements along the flat. Mr. E. E. Green 

 has been struck by its restless habit and the quickness of its movements. 



* Ceylon and its Dependencies, p. 750. 



