146 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Distribution. — (a) General : Peculiar to Ceylon. 



(6) Local : Mr. Drummond-Hay found it abundant at 

 Hopewell estate, Balangoda district, between about 3,500 

 and 4,200 feet. Has been recorded from Pundaloya, about 

 4,000 feet, and Ramboda. Apparently an up-country 



Genus LYCODON. 



(Greek " lukos " wolf, and " odous " tooth. There is an 



enlarged tooth near the front of both maxilla and 



mandible, reminding one of the canine teeth 



in wolves, foxes, and dogs.) 



General Characters. — All these species are small snakes, 

 rarely exceeding 2 feet in length. Body cylindrical, rather 

 slender, elongate, the calibre reducing slightly posteriorly. 

 Belly angulate or rounded. Neck slightly evident. Head 

 rather depressed. Snout broadly rounded, without canthus. 

 Eye moderate, and entirely black in life, so that the pupil, 

 which is vertical in shape, is not discernible. Nostril 

 moderate, occupying the whole depth of the suture between 

 the nasals. Tail shortish, being about one-quarter to one- 

 sixth the total length. 



Identification. — The costals in 17 rows anteriorly, 17 at 

 midbody, and 15 posteriorly, and three labials touching the 

 eye will suffice to indicate the genus. 



Habits. — -Terrestrial, nocturnal, active, fierce. 



Food. — Small mammals, lizards. 



Breeding. — Oviparous. 



Poison. — Non-poisonous . 



Lepidosis (for Indian Species). — Rostral: Touches six 

 shields. Internasals: A pair. Prefrontals: A pair, Nasals: 

 Divided. Loreals : One or two. Prxocular. One. Posto- 

 culars : Two. Temporals : Two. Supralabials : Eight or 

 nine, three touching the eye. Sublinguals: Two pairs, 

 subequal, or the posterior longer. 



Costals: About as broad as long, or a little longer than 

 broad, rectiform, with or without keels, with single apical 



