140 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXL 



Of the 24 specimens 12 were d* 6 and 12 5 $ . Other specimens were 

 sent to me in a state of putrefaction collected in Drosh, whilst I was 

 absent at Madaglasht ( — June to 21st September). 



It is very remarkable that among all these specimens no single 5 showed 

 signs of being gravid, though all were dissected. Perhaps the breeding 

 season was during the hot months when I was absent at the Sanatarium. 

 The large number of imperfect tails in this, and other snakes is to be ac- 

 counted for, by the Ohitralis seizing this appendage, when the snake often 

 screws itself loose leaving part of its tail behind. The costal rows are 

 peculiar, being always fewer anteriorly than in midbody. Where the rows 

 increase from 25 to 27, from 27 to 29 or from 29 to 31 the extra row 

 appears on each side below the row adjacent to the vertebral, that is to say, 

 where 25 becomes 27 a row appears between the 11th and 12th rows above 

 the ventrals, where 27 becomes 29, it appears between the 12th and 13th, 

 and where 29 becomes 31, it appears between the 13th and 14th, The 

 reduction of rows is affected with one exception by the absorption of the 

 2nd row from the vertebral into one of its adjacent rows, i.e., where 31 

 becomes 29, the 14th row above the ventrals disappears, where 23 becomes 

 21, the 10th row disappears. In one step the 3rd row above the ventrals is 

 absorbed, and this is usually the second or third step in the reduction 

 process ; but as the first three steps occur close together, they are 

 occasionally reversed or intermixed so far as the absorption of rows is 

 concerned. 



The J claspers are furnished with cartilaginous, pedunculated processes. ' 

 The anal glands produce a custard-like material. 



I found this species infested with small, encysted, white parasites about 

 the size of lentils which were scattered all over the peritoneum. I submit- 

 ted some to Professor A. E. Shipley, who reported that they were protozoa, 

 probably sarcosporidia but possibly myxosporidia. 



