SNAKES OF CEYLON. 85 



patches are seen in the forebody, and the powdering is 

 heavier and more evenly distributed posteriorly. An 

 irregular series of black, sometimes light-edged, spots passes 

 down the spine. A more or less conspicuous series of black 

 dots is present on each scale of the fourth row above the 

 ventrals, and often on the lowest row also. The belly is 

 whitish, sometimes with a tinge of green, and bears a regular- 

 series of lateral dark dots, one on each ventral. The head 

 is black with usually the canthus, the lips, and a bar between 

 the eyes yellowish (white in spirit specimens). The nape has 

 a conspicuous, broad, well-defined, black band bordered 

 anteriorly, and posteriorly with yellow, which is coimected 

 on the median line with the black on the head. A narrow 

 black line borders the yellow of the neck band posteriorly. 

 I have seen specimens without the yellow on the canthus 

 and between the eye, and without vertebral spots. 



Habits. — Nothing special has been remarked upon. 



Food. — I found a skink in the stomach of one example. 



Breeding. — (a) The Sexes : The male clasper is not bifid. It 

 is a cylindrical organ beset with recurved claw -like processes, 

 many at the extremity being specially large. 



(b) Method of Reproduction : Not known, but I found eggs 

 of such a size and character as to make it probable that it is 

 an oviparous snake. 



(c) Season : Not known. 



(d) The Brood: I have found two eggs in one specimen, 

 and five in another. The largest of these measured 19 by 7 mm. 

 (I °y i °f an inch) with no trace of an embryo. 



Growth. — (a) The Young: The length of the young is not 

 known. 



(b) Early Life : My notes throw T no light on the annual 

 growth. 



(c) Maturity: The smallest gravid female I have seen 

 measured 324 mm. (12| inches). 



(d) Maximum Length : Boulenger records one 440 mm. 

 (1 foot 5f inches), and I have seen nothing larger. 



Parasites. — (a) Ectozoa: I found one infested with little 

 mites which appear to be the same as those found by me 

 on Oligodon sublineatus (q. v.). I give a figure of one of these 



