REMARKS ON. RECENTLY ACQUIRED CEYLON SNAKES. oT 
Oligodon sublineatus , Dum et Bib. 
A single 6 specimen of this snake from Matale, measuring 83 in., 
was specially interesting, in that the scale rows were aberrant, 
numbering 13 instead of 15. Studying this specimen, it was 
observed that the sixth and seventh rows above the ventrals 
coalesced, reducing the normal 15 to 13 rows, and in several places 
the row so formed divided to bring the number to the normal 15 and 
then fused again. I have seen a similar aberration arising in the 
same manner in other species of Oligodon and its nearly allied genus 
Simotes. The. ventrals numbered 140, and the subcaudals 32. 
The general appearance of this snake is remarkably like that of its 
poisonous relative, Callophis trimaculatus. There are the same 
black spots in a single costal series down each side of the back, and 
the same head marks, but the dark collar is broken in the median 
line, unlike trimaculatus. The median row of ventral spots was 
absent in this specimen. 
An examination of the skull I prepared from this specimen is 
interesting. There is an edentulous interval that would take at 
least two teeth in the front of the maxillary and mandibular bones, 
the palatine bone is edentulous, and a long edentulous interval is 
seen in the front of the pterygoid bone, so that the few teeth in 
this are situated in the middle. It is to be noted that Boulenger 
(Cat., Vol. II., p. 233) states that the pterygoid teeth are wanting 
in this genus, but I find them present in all the species of which I 
have skulls, viz., venustus, dorsalis, subgriseus, erythrogaster, as well 
as this species. 
The maxillary teeth in this specimen number 7, the pterygoid 
5 or 6, and the mandibular 10. 
Bungarus ceylonicus, Gunther. 
Two well-grown specimens of the ‘“ Karawella” killed at Pera- 
deniya were sent to me, a 6 measuring 2 ft. 2} in., with 233 ventrals 
and 32 subcaudals, and a 6? measuring 2 ft. 5} in., with 223 
ventrals and 37 subcaudals. 
I prepared both skulls, and find the dentition as follows: 
the maxille are provided with 3 small grooved teeth behind the 
paired fangs. There are from 11 to 12 palatine, 8 to 10 pterygoid, 
and 15 to 17 mandibular teeth. 
Callophis trimaculatus, Daudin. 
One specimen of this very rare snake was sent to me, killed at 
Matale, an adult measuring 1 ft. 3} in. The species has only twice 
before been recorded from Ceylon, once by Haly (First Report, 
Snakes, Colombo Museum, 1886, p. 16), from Tissamaharama, 20 
miles north-east of Hambantota, and once by Dr. Willey (Spol. 
Zeylan., Vol. V., Part XX., p. 186), from Niroddumunai, near 
Trincomalee. 
