SNAKES OF CEYLON. 81 



before the vent. The scales are broader than long, juxta- 

 posed, and bear curiously modified chaffy keels. They are 

 broader dorsally than ventrally. The keels occupy the 

 median two -fourths of the scale, and are % claw-like with the 

 points set backwards. On the lower costal region these keels 

 are surrounded by a circular moat-like sulcus. The ventrals 

 are longer than broad, very narrow, more or less curved, and 

 imbricate, and in four or five transverse rows on a raised 

 ridge. There are no enlarged head shields, no rostral, and no 

 mental. There is no mental groove, but a furrow filled with 

 small scales. There is an annular nasal, almost entirely 

 occupied by the crater-like open nostril. 



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

 13 to 15. Palatine: 7 to 8. Pterygoid: 6 to 8. Mandi- 

 bular : 14. 



Distribution. — The coasts of India from the locality of 

 Bombay on the Malabar side, coasts of Burma, and Indo- 

 China. The islands of the Malay Archipelago as far east as the 

 Philippines, and new Guinea. 



Round the coasts of India it is a fairly abundant snake. 



Sub -family 2.— Colllbrinae. 

 (Named after the type genus Coluber.) 



General Characters (for Indian Species). — Head small or 

 moderate in size ; snout short, moderate, or long, with or 

 without indications of a canthus. Eye small, moderate, or 

 large ; with round or vertically elliptic pupil. Nostril 

 lateral ; small to moderate. Neck not, or but moderately, 

 evident. Body cylindrical or compressed ; slender to robust ; 

 short, moderate, or long. Belly rounded, laterally angulate, 

 or keeled. Tail short, moderate, or long. 



Identification. — Not possible from external characters alone. 

 Distinguished by the aglyphous character of the maxillary 

 dentition, the absence of spinal teeth, and peculiarities in the 

 postfrontal bone. 



Habits. — Terrestrial, arboreal, or semi-aquatic. Alert and 

 active. Oviparous or viviparous. 



Food. — Mammals, birds, reptiles, batrachians, fish, worms. 

 Avine, lacertine, ophidian and batrachian eggs. 



16 6(6)20 



