( xii ) 



and Batrachia," published in 1890, includes the Ceylon 

 snakes, but is entirely descriptive. The same remark applies 

 to the same author's " Catalogue of Snakes in the British 

 Museum," which was completed in 1896. Since then Aber- 

 cromby wrote a small treatise entitled " The Snakes of 

 Ceylon " (1910), which is incomplete as a list, and very brief 

 in its remarks. There are, however, many valuable obser- 

 vations about some of the species which I have made use of 

 in the present work. Since " Spolia Zeylanica " appeared 

 many have contributed notes to that Journal, which I have 

 incorporated into my volume. Among those who have 

 furnished the most valuable information, Mr. E. E. Green 

 must be mentioned first. His notes have been excellent. 

 Dr. Willey, Mr. Pearless, Mr. Abercromby, and others have 

 written occasional notes to the same Journal, which have 

 supplemented our knowledge of some of the species. 



The reader of these pages will soon discover that our 

 knowledge of many of the species referred to is fragmentary 

 or even nil, and he will be in a position to know where 

 he can furnish information that will enable a later author 

 to compile a better and more comprehensive work. The 

 present volume will justify its existence if this result alone is 

 achieved. 



There is still much to be known about the poisonous snakes 

 of Ceylon, and it is hoped that the Government Medical Staff 

 may contribute to our knowledge by reporting cases on the 

 casualty form drawn up by me on page xxii. 



No volume on the snakes of Ceylon can be considered 

 complete without the inclusion of the marine forms. Situated 

 as the Island is at the point of the peninsula of India, it is 

 reasonable to expect that the sea snakes known from the 

 Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal would be met with around 

 its shores. Accordingly I have treated the subject on this 

 supposition, and included all the sea snakes known from 

 Indian coasts, from the Persian Gulf to Tenasserim. Many 

 of the species referred to have not yet been actually recorded 

 from the coasts of Ceylon, but I think it will be admitted, 

 thai there has not been up to date at all a thorough survey 

 of the circumjacent waters. 



