SNAKES OP CEYLON. 15 



Gostals : In 22 rows in the whole length. Anal : Not 

 differentiated. 



Distribution, — (a) General : Only known from Ceylon. 



(b) Local : Apparently very rare. Until recently only one 

 specimen was known, which was acquired by Colonel Beddome 

 on Haycock mountain, near Galle, at 2,000 feet elevation. 

 I found one in the Colombo Museum without history 

 measuring 626 mm. (2f inches). 



Family GLAUCONIID/E. 



Not represented in Ceylon. 



Family ILYSHD/E. 4 

 (Named after the type Genus Ilysia.) 



General Characters. — Small snakes not exceeding about 

 2 J feet in length. Head moderately depressed, as broad as 

 body, cuneate in profile. Snout longish, without canthus, 

 broadly rounded anteriorly. Eye small with round or verti- 

 cally elliptic pupil ; in a single shield, or surrounded by many 

 shields. Nostril small in a single shield. Chin with or 

 without a mental groove. Neck not constricted. Body 

 cylindrical, stout, of even calibre throughout. Belly rounded. 

 Tail very short, conical. Vestiges of a hind limb, which are 

 visible as small claw-like appendages on each side of the vent. 



Identification. — Last costal row about two-thirds the 

 breadth of the ventrals. Anal nearly twice the breadth of the 

 ventrals. 



Habits. — Subterrestrial, burrowing nimbly ; movements 

 above the soil laboured. Dull and lethargic. Diurnal. 



Food. — Eels and snakes (Malcolm-Smith). 



Breeding. — Viviparous as far as known. 



Poison. — Non-poisonous . 



Lepidosis. — Rostral : Touches four shields. Nasals : In 

 contact behind rostral. Intemasals : Absent. Prefrontals : 

 Two. Frontal : Present. Supraoculars : Present. Parietals : 

 Present or absent. Loreal : Absent. Prxoculars : Absent. 

 Postoculars : Present or absent. Temporals : Present. 



