144 SrOLIA ZBYLANICA. 



NOTES ON SNAKES GOLLEGTEO AT HAKGALA, GEYLON. 



By F. Wall, C.M.Z.S., Captain, I.M.S. 



Fyzabad, United Provinces, India. 



rriHROUGH the kindness of Mr. Nock I have received two 

 -*- collections of snakes at different times from Hakgala, 

 Ceylon (5,600 feet). 



The number of species included is small (6), and all are 

 common ; nevertheless, collections such as these are of distinct 

 value with reference to distribution. It will be seen also that 

 some very interesting information has been gleaned from the 

 numerous specimens of Aspidura trachyprocta and Ancistrodon 

 hypnale. I have omitted to give measurements, as the specimens 

 were all preserved in spirit, and under these conditions do not 

 lend themselves to accurate investigation. 



Aspidura trachyprocta. 

 (48 specimens.) 



With reference to this species I notice Gtinther says (Rept. 

 Brit. Ind., p. 203) : '* This species is nearly as common in Ceylon 

 as A. hrachyorrlwsH'' In the locality of Hakgala A. trachy- 

 procta is evidently not only vastly more numerous than^. hrachy- 

 orrhos, but by far the commonest snake to be met with at all. 

 No single specimen of A. hrachyurrhos was included. 



Food. — Several specimens had their stomachs distended with a 

 soft putty-like mass, the nature of which I could not determine. 

 Once I thought I could distinguish a slug, and once a grub. On 

 four occasions without doubt the ingested material consisted of 

 earth-worms. I never found traces of any hard-cased insects. 



Breeding. — The ovarian follicles are normally about g^ inch in 

 length. In one specimen I found 8 follicles (4 in each ovary), 

 about ^ inch long, and in another 6 (3 in each ovary) about the 

 same size, and these appeared to be impregnated. The dates of 

 both are not known. A third specimen obtained on the 10th of 

 August, 1904, had 14 follicles (6 in one ovary and 8 in the other) 

 enlarged to -^q of an inch. The smallest specimens, which I 

 believe were hatchlings, measured 4^ and 4^^^ inches. The latter 

 were found in company with an adult female on the 10th of 



