SNAKES OF CEYLON. 31 



Frontals : Variable in length. Parietals : Variable in length. 

 Ocular : Contains the eye ; touching the 3rd and 4th 

 supralabials. Supraoculars : Absent. Lor ml : Absent. Prse- 

 oculars, postoculars, and temporals : Absent. Supralabials : 

 Four ; progressively increasing in size from before backwards. 

 Gostals : Broader than long, subequal except the ultimate 

 row, which is broader than the rest, broadly rounded poster- 

 iorly ; smooth. In from 21 to 19 rows two heads-lengths 

 behind the head, two less, i.e., 19 to 17 at midbody and to the 

 vent. The rows reduce anteriorly by a fusion of the 4th and 

 5th rows above the ventrals. Ventrals : About four-thirds 

 the breadth of the ultimate row of scales; narrow, so that 

 three or four rows of scales can be seen each side when the 

 specimen is laid on its back. Anal : Divided ; fully twice the 

 breadth of the ventrals. Subcaudals : 3 to 10 ; mostly 

 divided, some usually entire. Caudal shield : Enlarged and 

 peculiar in shape, covered with minute spinose processes ; 

 as long or nearly as long as the shielded part of the head. 

 (Fig. 12.) 



Spc 

 Fig. 12. — Upper part of tail of Rhinophis. 



Dentition. — From five species in my collection. Maxillary : 

 Anododont, kumatodont. Palatine: Edentulous. Pterygoid : 

 Edentulous. Mandibular : Anododont, scaphiodont. 



Distribution. — South India and Ceylon, mostly confined to 

 the hills. There are nine species, seven of which are peculiar 

 to Ceylon. Two of these are now described for the first time, 

 viz., drummond-hayi and porrectus. 



