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SPOLIA ZBYLANICA. 



With the exception of the Python family (Boidae) and the earth- 

 snakes of the families Typhlopidae, Ilysiidae, and Uropeltidae, all 

 the Ceylonese snakes belong to one of two families, Colubridae 

 and Viperidae. According to Boulenger's system of classification 

 the Colubrine snakes comprise three parallel series of forms, 

 namely, Aglj'pha, harmless snakes with simple solid teeth ; 

 Opisthoglypha, suspected snakes or slightly poisonous, one or 

 several of the posterior maxillary teeth being fang-like and 

 grooved ; Proteroglypha, poisonous Colubrine snakes in which 

 the anterior maxillary teeth are either grooved or perforated. 



The Opisthoglypha are represented in Ceylon by the three 

 genera Dipsas, Dryophis, and Ghrysopelea. The Proteroglypha 

 comprise terrestrial and marine snakes, the former being re- 

 presented in Ceylon by the genera Gallophis, Bungarus, and Naia. 



Lateral and dorsal views of the head and dorsal views of portions of the body 

 of D. harmsU. (on the left) and D. ceylonensis (on the right). The vertebral 

 scales of the latter are larger than the others. 



Three species of the genus Dipsas occur in this Island, namely, 

 I). Oarnesii, D. ceylonensis, and D.forstenii. Of these, the first is 

 endemic, ttie second and third are found also in the Himalaj'as and 

 Western Ghats of India. 



The original description of D. harnesii was based upon a single 

 specimen, antl until this year it has not been numbered among the 



