SNAKES OF CEYLON. 131 



I have had hatchlings varying from 136 to 168 mm. (5f 

 and 6| inches in length in the months of July, August, and 

 September, and other specimens in September from 185 to 

 255 mm. (7 \ to 10 inches), showing that the longest had 

 hatched out some months earlier. 



(d) Period of Gestation : Not accurately known, but Mr. 

 D'Abreu's second specimen alluded to above was acquired 

 on December 26, so that at least eighty-five days had elapsed 

 since the act of mating. 



(e) Period of Incubation : Not known. 



(/) The Eggs: Mr. D'Abreu says the eggs were oval, and 

 equally domed at both ends. One egg from the first clutch 

 measured 36 by 21 mm. (1*45 by *69 inch). An egg from 

 the second clutch measured 25 by 22 mm. (1 by *7 inch). 



Growth. — (a) The Hatchlings : I have had many hatchlings 

 between 136 and 168 mm. (5| to 6| inches). One of 

 Miss Montgomery's brood was reported to be 187 mm. (7f 

 inches) long. 



I found three follicles fertilized in one specimen and 

 twelve in another. Mr. D'Abreu's two clutches numbered 

 seven and sixteen. Miss Montgomery's hatched brood 

 numbered thirty -one. 



(b) Early Life : The young appear to double their length 

 in the first year of life. I cannot follow the subsequent 

 growth from my records. 



(c) Maturity : My smallest gravid female measured 450 

 mm. (1 foot 5| inches), a length suggesting that her age was 

 about eighteen months to two years. 



(d) Maximum Length-: My largest male record is 750 mm. 

 (2 feet 5J inches). My largest female record is 890 mm. 

 (2 feet 11 inches). I have had several other females over 

 760 mm. (2 feet 6 inches). Colonel Light has recorded one 

 940 mm. (3 feet 1 inch). 



Parasites. — {a) Ectozoa : Two young examples in the Nil- 

 giri Hills were infested with many small scarlet mites, which 

 were pronounced species of Microtrombidia by Professor 

 Hirst. These are extremely like the little mite called the 

 harvest bug in England (M. holosericeus). 



