NOTES ON SNAKES COLLECTED IN CANNANORE. 307 



Sub-family HOMALOPSIM. 

 Cerberus rhynchops. 



I obtained 2 female specimens. Of one I noted that it struggled 

 violently in my grasp^ wreathing itself round my wrist, and exhibiting 

 considerable strength. Of the other the length was 3 feet 3 inches, 

 tail 6^ inches, ventrals 148, sub-caudals 50 but the tail was not com- 

 plete. The anterior chins were in contact with 4 infralabials. Scales, 2 

 heads lengths behind the head 25 ; midbody 25 ; 2 heads lengths before 

 the vent 19. It contained a large fish 8 inches in length. Under 

 provocation it hissed loudly, and protruded a whitish tongue in a lazy 

 way. Its mode of progression was very peculiar, and very similar 

 to that recently noted by Flower* in relation to an African viper 

 ( Cerastes Vipera). During progression it always threw a coil sideways 

 in advance of the head, up to which the head subsequently moved, 

 and before the body was extended, the coil was again thrust forward. 

 It gave the impression that it was moving sideways. As I have noticed 

 before this snake depressed its hinder body when alarmed. 



Gerardia prevostiana. 



My only specimen was obtained on 8th November 1903. It was 

 lying sunning itself in a shallow pool of water, and made no move- 

 ment when I walked over it snipe shooting. My wife following in my 

 steps discovered it. 



Length 19f inches, tail 2^ inches, Ventrals 151, SubcaudaJs 31, 

 Scales 2 heads lengths behind head 17 ; midbody 17 ; 2 heads lengths 

 in front of vent 15. Like all the other Homalopsids occurring in 

 Indian limits except Hypsirhina plumbed and Fordonia leucobalia, the 

 nasal shields touch one supralabial only, viz., the first. The temporal 

 touches one labial only, viz., the 6th. 



Sub-family DIPSADOMORPHIM. 



DlPSADOMORPHUS TRIGONATA. 



This snake coiled itself before striking exactlyas I have reported in 

 an earlier volume of this Journal, of the D. Multimaculata. A con- 

 siderable length of the body was raised off the ground and thrown into 

 figure of 8 loops, with the head poised centrally. It struck out viciously 

 under provocation. In captivity I noticed, it rested on branches coiled, 

 as if on the ground, unlike all the other tree snakes with which I am 



*" The Field, " 18th June 1904. 



