80 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Habits. — (a) Haunts: This is a marine snake that clings 

 to the coasts, and travels some distance up tidal rivers. 

 Gunther says: "It is sometimes seen three or four miles from 

 the shore." 



(b) Disposition : Mr. Prater tells me it is a very inoffensive 

 snake. The fishermen about Bombay handle it with 

 impunity. It merely twists about to disengage itself when 

 grasped, and does not attempt to bite them- 



(c) Progression: Its movements in water are active and 

 nimble. On land any progress is very laboured and slow. 



Food. — I have only found the remains of fish in its stomach. 



Breeding. — (a) Method of Reproduction: It is viviparous 

 in habit. Cantor had a gravid female containing embryos, 

 Dr. Henderson obtained one with embryos, and I have had 

 another. 



(b) Season : A specimen killed at Bombay in May con- 

 tained sacs with embryos about 3 to 4 inches long. 

 Dr. Henderson's specimen killed on August 19th contained 

 embryos apparently fit for discharge. 



(c) Period of Gestation : Not known. 



(d) The Brood : My Bombay specimen contained four sacs, 

 Cantor's gravid female contained six, and Dr. Henderson's 

 specimen twelve. 



Growth. — (a) Length of Young : Four of the young 

 extracted by me from Dr. Henderson's specimen measured 

 respectively 325, 330, 337, and 344 mm. (12}, 13, 13J, and 

 13| inches). As none of the young males had their genitals 

 protruding, it is fairly certain their birthday would have 

 been very soon. 



(b) Maturity: My gravid example measured 743 mm. 

 (2 feet 5 J inches). If this species grows at the same rate as 

 other snakes, i.e., doubles its length in the first year of life, 

 this specimen would have been very li£tle over one year 

 old. 



(c) Maximum Length: It grows to 1620 mm. (4 feet). 

 Dr. Henderson's gravid female was exactly this length. 



Lepidosis. — (a) Typical : The costals are very numerous. 

 In one specimen of mine they numbered 98 two heads-lengths 

 behind the head. 154 at midbody, and 71 two heads-lengths 



