SNAKES OF CEYLON. 37 



five rows each side outlined with white. Anal region, side of 

 tail, and caudal shield whitish. No dark horseshoe on caudal 

 shield. 



Habits. — Very gentle and disinclined to bite. 



Food. — The stomachs of many investigated by me contained 

 nothing but earthworms, and the intestines and cloaca were 

 distended with semi-liquid mud from the same source. 



Breeding. — (a) The Sexes : Of thirty-two adults in Mr. 

 Drummond- Hay's collection sexed by me, nineteen j>roved to 

 be males and thirteen females. Males have relatively longer 

 tails, and more numerous subcaudals. The sexes appear to 

 grow to about the same length. The longest male examined 

 was 252 mm. (10 inches), and the longest female 240 mm. 

 (9f inches). 



(b) Method of Reproduction : I found eggs containing 

 embryos in such a stage of development as to leave no doubt 

 that the species is viviparous. 



(c) Season : As no dates were available, no light could be 

 thrown upon this matter. 



(d) The Brood : The two gravid females dissected by me 

 each contained two embryos. 



Growth. — (a) The Young : When born the young are 

 evidently about 90 to 95 mm. (3f to 3| inches) long. I have 

 measured post-natal specimens as small as 90 mm. (3f inches). 



(b) Early Life : The growth cannot be followed as no dates 

 were available. 



(c) Maturity : The gravid females were 182 and 196 mm. 

 (7 J and 7 J inches) long. If this snake grows at the same rate 

 as the majority of snakes, and doubles its length in the 

 first year of life, these measurements indicate that it is 

 sexually mature when a year old. 



(d) Maximum Length : The longest male I have examined 

 was 252 mm. (10 inches) and the longest female 240 mm. 

 (9f inches). Gunther, however, records one 420 mm. (16J 

 inches), sex not specified. 



Lepidosis. — Rostral : Obtusely keeled above ; length longer 

 than the frontal, less than half the shielded part of the head. 

 Frontal : As broad as long, as long as the parietals. 



