SNAKES OE CEYLON. 13 



Gostals : In 20 rows in the whole body. Anal : Not 

 differentiated. (Fig. 3.) 



Fig. 3. — Anal region of Typhlops braminus. 

 (X 5.) 



Dentition. — The head is too diminutive to favoui the 

 preparation of a skull. 



Distribution : (a) General. — South Asia ; Islands of the 

 Indian Ocean, i.e., Ceylon, Cocos, Andamans, Mauritius, 

 Madagascar, Comoros ; Africa south of the Equator. 



(b) Local. — It is a denizen of the low-country, but ascends 

 to an elevation of at least 3,000 feet. 



It is very abundant in India and Ceylon. 



Typhlops leucomelas Boulenger. 



(Greek " leukos " white, and " melas " black, implying pied.) 

 The Pied Typhlops (or Blind Snake). 



Synonymy.— Nil. 



History. — Described by Boulenger in 1890. 



General Characters. — Less than 6 inches long in its adult 

 state. Head of the same calibre as the body, snout rounded. 

 Eyes distinct ; lying beneath the ocular shield. Nostrils 

 lateral. Body short, its diametre being 1/23 to 1/32 the total 

 length. Tail ending in a spine directed backwards and down- 

 wards. 



Identification (for Ceylon).— The costals in 22 rows will 

 suffice to indicate the species. 



Colouration. — Blackish-brown dorsally, pure white ventrally 

 (Boulenger). The one in the Colombo Museum is light 

 brown dorsally, paler brown beneath. 



Habits and Breeding. — Nothing known. 



