620 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX. 



tlic 5th and 6th July. In Cannanore 1 had a hatchling G : [ inches 

 long on the 21st November, one in Dehra Dun 5| inches long on 

 the 8th of October, one in Bangalore 7i inches on the 29th of 

 September, two in Fyzabad measuring 5^ and Q\ inches in October 

 and two measuring 5f and 7^ inches in November. 



At the time of hatching the $ has the genitals ensheathed, and 

 concealed from view, but I have had an embryo of 6^- inches length 

 in which they were extruded, showing that it is only at a very late 

 stage of embryonic development that their invagination occurs. 



When the hatchling first leaves the egg it may, or may not have 

 part of the yolk sac adhering to the navel. This orifice, or the 

 recently obliterated remains of it, is very apparent in the hatchling. 

 and remains so for some months, but eventually becomes com- 

 pletely effaced. At exovation from 14 to 18 ventral shields 

 intervene between it, and the anal shield, and the scar itself involves 

 two or even three ventrals. 



Growth. — When the hatchling vacates the egg it is from - r >| to 7 

 inches in length, and there is little difference in the length of the 

 sexes for in one brood two J 1 J were 6, and 6§, and two 9. ? 6f, 

 and 7 inches respectively. In another brood one s ^ v;)S ;, : ; 7 >- nn,i four 

 $ 2 ~>i\;- *'*• -VL and : >]+ inches, respectively. In a third case a g 

 was G{, and a 5 of the same clutch G-]r inches. It is curious this 

 being the case that all through my notes the average measurements 

 of the 5 in each month appreciably exceed those of the ' . and this 

 becomes increasingly apparent till by the end of the 2nd year there 

 is a disparity of two inches or more in favour of the $> . As far as 

 can judge the young add from 5 to 8 inches to their length in 

 each of the first and second years, which means that thej approxi- 

 mately double their length in the first year and have trebled it by 

 the end of the second, by which time they have attained maturity, 

 and any further increase in length is small and slow. The small- 

 est gravid $ I have had was 1 foot 5i inches, but many have 

 been from 1 foot G inches to 1 foot 7 inches, all lengths attained 

 at the end of the second year. It is evident therefore from my 

 numerous records that the majority of individuals mate at this early 

 age. It is interesting to note from the measurements of hatchlings 

 given above, all of which were from Dibrugarh, how close the 



