SNAKES OE CEYLON. 21 



Gostals : Broader than long, broadly rounded posteriorly ; 

 rectiform ; smooth and glossy. Vertebral and the next row 

 subequal ; next four rows rather larger ; lowest five rows 

 subequal, and largest. Ultimate row about four-fifths the 

 breadth of the ventrals. In 19 rows two heads-lengths be- 

 hind the head, 21 in midbody, (or 19) and 19 two heads- 

 lengths before the vent ; the increase in rows occurs about six 

 heads-lengths behind the head where a new row appears 

 above the 4th from the ventrals ; the reduction in rows 

 posteriorly occurs about three heads-lengths before the vent, 

 and is due to the confluence of the 5th and 6th rows 

 above the ventrals. Ventrals : 185 to 212 ; very little broader 

 than the ultimate row. Anal : Divided ; one and a half 

 times as broad as the ventrals. Subcaudals : 4 to 6 ; divided 

 or some entire. (Fig. 6.) 



Fig. 6. — Anal region of Cylindrophis maculatus. 



Dentition. — From one skull in my collection. Maxillary : 

 9. Palatine: 7. Pterygoid: 5 to 7. Mandibular: 11. 



Distribution. — (a) General : Peculiar to Ceylon. 



(b) Local : A resident of the Plains. Has been found up to 

 about 1,700 feet elevation. A very common snake. 



Family UROPELTID/E. 



(Named after the type Genus Uropeltis.) 



General Characters (for Ceylon Species). —Small snakes from 

 1 to 2 feet in length. Head very small. Snout rounded, 

 subacute or acute, without canthus. Eye very small, and 

 situated in an ocular shield. Nostril small, situated in a single 



