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REPTILES AND AMPHIBIA. 



The collection of reptiles and amphibia is contained under 

 glass shades over the table cases. The largest reptiles are the Cro- 

 codiles, Monitors, and the Python. There are two species of cro- 

 codiles in Ceylon, the Tank Crocodile (Crocodilus 'pcilustris), with 

 a comparatively short snout, and the River Crocodile (C.iJorosus), 

 with a longer and narrower snout. The former is represented by 

 the skull of a large specimen from the Minneri tank,* the latter 

 by a young stuffed specimen in the Sambur and Boar Group. 

 There are also two species of monitors, the large Water Lizard or 

 " Kabaragoya " ( Varanus salvator), of which a skeleton is exhibi- 

 ted in the gallery and some live specimens in the grounds ; and 

 secondly, the Land Monitor (F. bengalensis\ a smaller species, 

 which lays its eggs in the nests of termites. 



Some eighty-one species of snakes have been recorded from 

 Ceylon, including twenty-six sea snakes (Hydrophidse). The 

 latter are all poisonous, but of the land snakes only six or seven 

 are poisonous, the most deadly being the Cobra {Naia tripudimis), 

 the Tic Polonga or Russell's Viper ( Vipera russeUi), and the 

 Bungarums or Kraits {Bungarus ceylonicus and B. cceruleus).'\ 

 Examples of these are shown over the second table case to the 

 left of the staircase. The Crotaline or Pit Vipers, so called on 

 account of the existence of a deep pit of unknown significance on 

 each side of the snout between the eyes and the nostrils, are not 

 fatal to man. They are represented in Ceylon by the " Karawala " 

 (^Ancistrodon hypnale) and the Green Polonga {Trimeresurus 

 trigonocephalus). 



There is a very common non-poisonous snake which mimics 

 the dreaded Bungarus ceylonicus in its scheme of coloration, 

 namely, white transverse bands upon a dark ground colour, and 

 is sometimes mistaken for it when seen at a distance or when 

 examined casually. This is Lycodon aidicus, a snake which is 

 frequently found trespassing in bungalows in Colombo. The 

 Bungarus occurs chiefly up-country in the country round 

 Peradeniya, Dimbula, Balangoda, and elsewhere. 



A large Python molurus is mounted in the east alcove ; some 

 Hydrophidse are shown over the third case ; the snakes on the 

 lifth case include a large Green Polonga and a large Tic Polonga, 

 somewhat faded ; over the sixth case are the Whip snakes (Dry- 

 ophis); the "Pol-mal Karawala" {Chrysopelea ornata), which when 

 fresh shows bright red spots along the back, reputed poisonous, 

 but in reality harmless and of gentle disposition ; the fresh-water 



* Placed on a bench in the east alcove. 



■J B. caeruleua has only been recorded from Jaffna. 



