48 

 1. ICHTHYOPHIS.i 



1. ICHTHYOPHIS GLUTINOSHS. 



Ichtliyophis glutinosus, Gratf. Cat. 1850, p. 60 ; Peters, Mon. Berl. 

 Ac. 1679, p. 9;il, pi. figs, l-s Blgr. Cat. 1882, p. 89, pi. IV, fig. 2. 



Rhiiiatrema bivittatum, Grat/. Cat. p. 61. 



Serpens coecilia ceylonica, SebLi,ji. p. 26, tab. 25, fig. 2. 



Coecilia glutinosa, Linn. Miis. Ad. Fred. p. 19, pi. XXV, fig. 2, and 

 S. N. i, p. 229 ; Daitd. Rept. VII, p. 418 ; Peters, Mon. Jierl. Ac. 

 1861, p. 3U3. 



Coecilia viscosa, Latr. Rept. IV, p. 238. 



Ichthyophis hasseltii, Fitzhig. Neue. Classif. Repf. p. 63. 



Coecilia hypocyanea, Hasselt. Isis. 1827, p. 5()5; Miiller, Zeitschr. f. 

 Phi/s. IV., p. 195, and Arch. Anat. Phijs. 1835, p. 391, pi. 8, figs. 12-14 ; 

 Sckleg. Abbild. p. 119, pi. 3i', fig. 1. 



Coecilia bivittata, Cuv. R. A. 2nd ed. ii, p. 100. 



Epicrium hypocyanea, Way I. St/st. Aniph. p. 198 ; Tschudi. Batr. 

 p. 90. 



Epici'iura glutinosiim, Dam. Sf Bibr. p. 286 ; Gunth. Rept. Brit. Ind. 

 1864, p. 441. 



Rhinatrema bivittatura, Dum. 8f Bibr. p. 288, pi. 85, fig. 4. 



Ichtiiyophis beddomii, Peters, I.e. p. 932, pi. fig. 4. 



Both rows of mandibular teeth well developed ; snout rounded ; 

 width of head between the eyes equals the distance of the eye from 

 the end of the snout ; eye easily distinguishable ; tentacle below and .in 

 front of the eye, generally much nearer the eye than the nostril. 

 Body sub-cyliudrical, rather depressed, moderately elongate, with very 

 numerous (240 to 400) distinct circular folds, angular on the belly. 

 Tail A ery short though distinct, pointed. Dark brown or bluish black ; 

 a yellow band along each side of the body, from the head to the tail. 



In the larva of this species, says Boulenger (/.c ), " the head is 

 fish-like, greatly resembling that of Amphimna, provided with much 

 developed labial lobes ; ' the tongue is extensively free in front. The 

 tentacle-pit is either absent or close to the eye. The latter is much 

 more developed than in the adult, about as much as in tlie Aniphiumidce. 

 I cannot find any branchiae. The spiracula are large. The tail is 

 much more distinct than in the adult, strongly compressed, and finned 

 above and beneath, the upper membrane extending somewhat in advance 

 of the vent. The circular folds are very indistinct in the youngest 

 specimens, becoming gradually more distinct as the animal grows. The 

 anal opening is a longitudinal cleft." 



A.ccording to P. B. and C. F. Sarasin, this species (called Epicrium 

 glutinosum) is oviparous. The eggs are very similar to those of 



' A species, Epicrium carnosum, not recorded in the Britisli Museum Catologue, is 

 described by Colonel Beddome {Madras, Month. Jonrn. Med. 8c., II, 1870, p. 176) as found 

 under stones on the Peria Peek, Wynaad, at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, of which the 

 following are some of the characteristics: " Head very much dejjressed ; eyes quite 

 invisible; labial groove much nearer the rasal than the eye ; point of tail quite rounded, 

 not prolonged more than half a line or a line beyond the vent ; annular folds 120, quite 

 continued round the body and belly throughout the whole length ; total length seven 

 inches with a circumference about as thick as a crow's quill : of a uniform bright fleshy 

 colour when alive, fading to a reddish brown in spirit." 



