2P2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. 



reduca by 2, 4, 6 or even more rows from before backwards, but the 

 odd number is preserved on the body — (Caution — I do not include the 

 tail), -with one notable exception, viz., the species under discussion, 

 Zamenis mucnsus. In this the scales number 17 in the front of the 

 body, but reduce to 14 or l'J posteriorly. This point in itself is suffi- 

 cient to distinguish this from all other snakes in our region * Another 

 feature characteristic of this snake is the triule loreal. {See 1, fig. 1 B). 

 Inalmo/tall snakes possessing a loreal, this is a single shield inter- 

 posed between the praeooular, and the nasals. In a few species there 

 are two, but in this there are three normally, one smterior, and two 

 superposed behind. Occasional aberrant specimens may be seen with 

 only *i loreals, or even with 4 or 5. 



In colour, and markings which 1 have already represented as faulty 

 guides in the identification of all snakes, both the species of Facets al- 

 ready referred to, as well as Xenelaphis heaayofolvs and Zamenis 

 korros, closely resemble it, and all aro of very similar proportions. 

 Hvmts. — There is scarcely a situation, whether in hill or dale, forest or 

 maidan, arid, swampy or cultivated tract, tree, buth, or habitation in 

 which it may not take up its abode. It is quite at heme in the jrox- 

 imity of man, and U io be met with in the gardens of populated art as 

 within our largest cities almost as plentifully as in the mere turquil 

 quarters of the Cantonment. In such local. ties, in deferaice to n.m's 

 hostile inclinations, it i; forced to retire dming the day ii to sen e se- 

 cure retreat, commonly taking up its abode in an ant-hill, drain or other 

 convenient hole in the compound, or even in the out-hcuses, cr Lurga- 

 low itself. Like other snakes it loves old masonry, and is often flush- 

 ed from or seen retiring into the crevices and crypts furnished by old 

 walls or brick wells. In Rangoon with the aid of a bicycle lamp to 

 illuminate the gloom of th> little galleries left for drainage purposes 

 in the faces of the fort, walls I frequently found one coiled up, and pro- 

 voked it to a speedy exit. In the bungalow it may tenant the base- 

 ment, but not infrequently finds its way up into the roof where it may 

 reside above the ceiling cloth, and though few may det m it as such it 

 is certainly entitled to th°s consMeration of a welcome friend. The late 

 Chaplain of Cannanore, the Reverend R. B. Redding, told me that once 

 when in conversation with a lady, upon whom he was calling, a 

 sc'amn ^rin^r was heard overhead on the c-iling clwth, and a rat fell 

 * In Zaocys the scales reduce, but they are maintained in even rows. 



