44 



THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



of the body, and both these characters will usually be detected even in 

 a badly mutilated specimen. The frontal shield along a line connect- 

 ing the centres of the eyes is subequal to the breadth of the supra- 

 oculars. The supraoculars are from throe-fuurth? to four-fifths the 

 length of the parietals. Venlrals 116 to 131. Subcaudals 24 to 37. 

 The boss on the snout is much higher Ihnn in the next species, and is 

 covered with smaller and more numerous scalt;s (8 to 12). 



fo j» 



^rti'^l 





^^ 



C 



Fi6. 25.— Ancistrodon hypnale (X 3). 



Distribution. — The Hills of Ceylon. It occurs at altitudes varying 



from 3,000 to 6,000 feet and is not uncommon in many parts. It is 



a very common snake in some of the hilly districts in Ceylon 

 (Hakgalla). 



