SNAKES OF CEYLON. 30 



Breeding. — (a) The Sexes : Out of a series of thirty -four in 

 Mr. Drummond-Hay's collection, nine were males and twenty- 

 five females. Males have slightly longer tails. Females 

 attain to a somewhat greater length. 



(b) Method of Reproduction : It is viviparous in habit. I 

 found many gravid and extracted foetuses from 85 to 90 mm. 

 in length (3| to 3f inches). 



(c) Season : Not known, as no dates were available. 



(d) The Brood : The eight gravid females examined by me 

 contained from two to four eggs or sacs. It was noticed that 

 the longest dams were the most prolific. 



Growth. — (a) The Young: At birth the young are about 

 87 mm. (3| inches), for the male foetuses measuring 85 to 

 90 mm. had not extruded claspers. The smallest post-natal 

 specimen measured 113 mm. (4 \ inches). 



(b) Early Life : Lack of dates made it impossible to follow 

 the early growth. 



(c) Maturity : The smallest prospective mother measured 

 194 mm. (7} inches). If this species doubles its length in the 

 first year of life as so many snakes do, it is producing young 

 when only one year old. 



(d) Maximum Length : The longest male I have seen was 

 225 mm. (9 inches), and the longest female 250 mm. (10 inches). 

 Boulenger gives the extreme measurement as 275 mm. (11 

 inches) without specifying the sex. 



Lepidosis. — Rostral : Keeled above ; longer than the 

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

 As broad or almost as broad as long, as long as the 

 parietals. 



Costals : Two heads-lengths behind the head 19, midbody 

 17, two heads -lengths before the vent 17. Ventrals : 188 to 

 204 y 188 to 193, $ 191 to 204). Subcaudals : 2 to 5 

 (cJ 5, ? 2 to 3). Caudal shield : As long as the shielded part 

 of the head. 



Dentition. — From two skulls in my collection. Maxillary : 

 5 to 6. Palatine : Edentulous. Pterygoid : Edentulous. 

 Mandibular : 7 ? 



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



