H6 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



the species is only 13 inches (Boulenger, Rept. Ind., p. 3S4). 

 After preservation in alcohol and forniol the specimen has 

 assumed a pale neutral tint, except for the head and nape which 

 are black : there are also black markings about the tail, a broad 

 l)lack ring behind the vent, another in frout of the pointed 

 extremity, and several intermediate black spots scattered 

 irregularly on the paired subcaudal shields of the tail. The tail 

 itself is three-fourths of an inch long ; the anal shield is divided : 

 there are thirteen rows of scales round the body exclusive of the 

 ventral shields. 



In the fresh condition we are told there is a yellow spot on each 

 occipital shield ; these spots can still be distinguished, appearing 

 like a pair of pale ocelli. The lower parts of the body are de- 

 scribed as being coloured uniformly red during life. According 

 to Dr. Giinther (P. Zool. Soc, 1859, p. 81) the genus Callojjhis is 

 characterized by the arrangement of the colours of the upper 

 parts in longitudinal streaks. Such streaks can be discerned in 

 the specimen under consideration, the median or vertebral line 

 being darker than the others ; the back and sides of the body are 

 also finely spotted, each scale bearing a brown spot. 



The poison fangs are very small, grooved in front, and there are 

 no other maxillary teeth behind them. 



According to Sir Joseph Fayrer (Thanatophidia of India, 1872. 

 p. 12), the puison is virulent, and fowls bitten by some of the 

 species of Gallophis succumbed in from one to three hours. They 

 are not aggressive, bite reluctantly, and would probably not be 

 able to inject a lethal dose into the human subject on account of 

 their small size and the shortness of their fangs. They are said 

 to feed chiefly upon other snakes, more especially upon Calamariw. 

 which, however, do not occur in Ceylon so far as is known. 



IV. — Dendrnjjhis caiidolmeatus, Giinther. 1869. 

 Gunther, A., op. cit. P. Zool. Soc, 1869, p. 506. 



DcndropJiis is a genus of tree-snakes belonging to the aglyphous 

 section of the Colubridae, the maxillary teeth being numerous and 

 approximately equal, none being fang-like. Like Dryophis, it is 

 represented in Ceylon by two species, one of which is common 

 and widely distributed in the East Indies, the other rare and 

 confined to Ceylon. The common species is D. ju'ctus and the 

 rare species D. caudolineatus. The former has iifteen rows of 

 scales, the latter thirteen. 



A third species, D. bi/renaiis, is described by Mr. Boulenger* 

 from three specimens in the British Museum. This is not present 



• Rept. Ind., p. 338. 



