110 SNAKES OP CEYLON. 



hence the names " wana* kukroo," " wanna pamu," and 

 " wanna cogli." Only recently, too (February), Mr. Millard 

 tells me he has offered rewards for them in Bombay, but the 

 natives say they cannot guarantee getting them, except in 

 the rains, when they are plentiful. 



In Rangoon Evans and Igotno single example in 1900 before 

 April 30, the day the rains broke, but from May 2 to August 2 

 no fewer than 21 specimens were brought in. Similarly, in 

 Cannanore in 1904, during the drought, between January 1 and 

 March 18, I got only one specimen out of a total of 60, but 

 from March 19 to June 4, between which dates a few desultory 

 showers fell, there were 3 out of 71 snakes collected, and 

 from June 5, the day the big monsoon burst, to the end of July 

 out of 81 specimens, no fewer than 38 were stolata. In 

 Fyzabad in 1906, during the drought, between January 1 and 

 June 18, the day the rains broke, I had received a solitary 

 specimen, but after this I obtained 6 out of 21 specimens in 

 June, and no fewer than 87 in July and August, out of a total 

 of 485 snakes of all kinds. 



(g) Hibernation : In Northern India it disappears during 

 the cold months of the year, hibernating beneath the soil. In 

 December, 1904, several were unearthed by the Sepoys of the 

 62nd Punjabis, when out in camp near Rae Bareilly in 

 December. They were found singly at a depth of from 

 9 to 18 inches below the surface, chiefly in the roots of 

 clumps of giant grass, and when dislodged were dull and 

 inactive. 



(h) Sloughing : We know very little about this function, 

 and although many snakes are kept in captivity in various 

 institutions in India, very little attention is paid to this 

 curious habit, and seemingly no records kept. Similarly, in 

 Regent's Park, London, I failed to get any information. 



A specimen I had in Rangoon sloughed on June 27 and 

 again on July 24. Another cast its skin on May 7 and 25, and 

 again on June 23 in Rangoon. Some excellent records were 

 kept some years ago in the Madras Museum, f from which I 

 find that one specimen desquamated on June 29, October 21. 



* " Wana " — rain (Telugu). 

 t Administration Report, 1896, 



