NOTES. 229 



late Mr. William Ferguson, F.L.S., pointed out in 1877,* that the 

 common Pit-viper, well known here as the " kunukatuwa," was 

 originally figured bj^ Dr. Davey as the " karawala," and the latter 

 erroneous name has adhered to it in English writings ever 

 since. 



There are three or four kinds of so-called "karawala" in 

 Ceylon, namely, the " dunu-karawala," Bungarus cei/loiiicus, the 

 '• mai-karawala " or " pol-mal-karawala," Ghrysopelea oniata ; and 

 the •' mudu-karawala," Colaher helena. The expression " tel- 

 karawala " is sometimes applied indifferently to varieties of 

 Bungarus ceylorncus and Lycodun aulicuSi'f in allusion to the oil- 

 like gloss of the scales. The term " mapila " belongs to certain 

 .snakes which have a suspicious look but are not dangerous, 

 namely, species of the genus Dijjsas (cf. Spot. Zeyl., vol. I., part 

 III., 1903, pp. 81-84). 



The most convincing evidence of mimicry as between harmless 

 and poisonous snakes is afforded by the specimens of a white- 

 ringed variety of Bungarus ceylonicus and the white-ringed 

 species of Lycodon, L. carinatus, which have been kept in the 

 same jar in the Museum. The similarity between these two 

 forms was remarked upon in 1877 by Mr. William Ferguson. To 

 the unaided eye the resemblance is quite deceptive, but with a 

 lens it will be seen at once that the scales of the Lycodon 

 carinatus are keeled, besides being equal. 



Precisely analogous examples of mimicry are known to occur 

 among the so-called coral-snakes of Brazil, of which there are four 

 genera, one (Flaps) poisonous, a second suspicious, the two others 

 harmless. The colour is described as a " rich red with black and 

 yellow transverse bands," and the species of these snakes 

 inhabiting the same districts are so like each other that only 

 a naturalist could distinguish the harmless from the poisonous 

 kinds (cf. Darwin, Descent of Man, Second Edition, p. 353). 



The accompanying schedule, which is based primarily upon 

 Mr. Boulenger's Monograph, is intended to serve as a guide to the 

 identification of a section of the snakes of Ceylon. It is complete 

 80 far as it goes, including as it does all the members of the three 

 subfamilies of Colubrid* mentioned, namely, the Colubrinse, 

 Dipsadinae, and Elapinaj, which are known to occur in Ceylon. 

 The sea-snakes (which are poisonous) and two other small sub- 

 families of water-snakes (Acrochordinte and Homalopsinae) 



* Wm. Ferguson, Reptile Fauna of Ceylon. Letter on a collection 

 sent to the Colombo Museum. Colombo, 1877 (printed by the Governmenk 

 Printer). 



t Lycodon auUcuts is also called ■• alu-polonga" at times. 



