SNAKES OF CEYLON. 17 



apply to the Ceylon species if looked for : "At ordinary times 

 this snake is fairly cylindrical in section, and uses its tail in 

 progression, putting the sharp tip against the ground, and 

 pushing its body forward from it ; but it has the power of 

 depressing the body, when its appearance -is very singular ; 

 the neck and anterior part of the body are but slightly com- 

 pressed, but posteriorly it is very much so. Consequently, 

 when seen from above the outline of the snake is much that of 

 a seasnake seen from the side. When touched or worried it 

 will not attempt to strike or bite, but keeps its head flat on 

 the ground, usually hidden under the folds of the body ; its 

 tail, however, it raises off the ground, and holds aloft curved 

 over backwards in the most extraordinary manner, so that 

 any casual observer would imagine the tail was the head, and 

 think the snake to be threatening to strike. Sometimes the 

 tail, is not curved over, but held in the manner most snakes 

 hold their heads when advancing." 



Food. — Dr. Malcolm-Smith, speaking of the Burmese and 

 Indo-China species rufus, says it feeds on eels, and other 

 snakes, " its appetite is gargantuan. It seems to prefer a 

 meal at least as large as itself, if not larger, and the manner 

 in which it can pack its food away and appear but little bigger 

 afterwards is extraordinary. One I had in captivity, itself 

 400 mm. in length, overcame, and devoured a keel back 

 (Tropidonotus piscator) of 500 mm. (20 inches), the latter 

 snake being well known for its activity and aggressiveness. 

 Another was found having just swallowed a water-snake 

 (Homalopsis buccata), the former 780 mm. long and the latter 

 925 mm. Two other specimens were caught in the water in 

 the act of swallowing eels, their prey on each occasion being 

 several inches longer than themselves." 



I am not aware of any special observations with regard to 

 the diet of maculatus, nor are there any records showing that 

 it haunts marshy land. 



Breeding. — The Ceylon species maculatus is viviparous. 



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

 tact behind the rostral. Inlernasals : Absent. Prefrontals : 

 A pair. Frontal : Subequal to the supraoculars in length and 

 breadth. Parietals : As long as or longer than the frontal. 



8 6(6)20 



