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



The Sexes. — It is remarkable that though the sexes are very 

 evenly balanced in many parts of India, in some localities, notably 

 Assam, there is a great disparity in favour of the $ . Thus out of 

 37 specimens sexed in Oannanore 20 were J an d 17 $ , and out of 

 118 sexed in Fyzabad 57 were s and 61 5 . In Assam — Hills 

 and Plains — females are more than twice as numerous, for out of 

 89 specimens sexed in Dibrugarh 62 were $ , and in Shillong in 

 the Khasi Hills no fewer than 16 out of 21 specimens proved to be 

 this sex. In a clutch of 5 eggs broiight to me in Dibrugarh there 

 were 4 5 5 and one $ . The $ is usually at all times longer 

 than the <3 . Starting from the egg it frequently has a slight advan- 

 tage, it more than maintains this as growth advances, and finally 

 attains proportions considerably in excess of the J as already 

 mentioned under dimensions q. v. 



The relative proportions of the body and tail are subject to slight 

 variation in individuals of both sexes, but I can discover no 

 disproportion of sexual import. 



The scent glands in both sexes furnish a greenish-yellow 

 secretion of the consistency of custard. 



The cj claspers are beset with numerous horny, claw-like, 

 curved processes, which must function as anchors. The nearly allied 

 species the "grass snake" so common in England (T. natrix), I 

 have more than once encountered "in copula." When disturbed 

 instead of detaching themselves, the larger and more powerful $ 

 made for the nearest cover dragging her partner unceremoniously 

 behind. 



It seems as if these processes which are recurved so as to oppose 

 any traction efforts serve to maintain attachment during such an 

 emergency. Their development is such, and they are so numerous 

 that they must provide a very firm grip, during a turgid state 

 of the organ, and I can well imagine that if under inordinate 

 strain the parties were pulled asunder the female parts would 

 sustain severe laceration. 



Breeding season. — It is a curious fact that though this snake goes 

 into retirement during the hot months in the Plains, this appears 

 to be the season when matrimonial intercourse is for the most part 

 indulged in. This is evidently so in many cases judging from 



