SNAKES OF CEYLON. 167 



conspicuous white or yellowish-white crossbars on the body 

 and tail, more conspicuous and more widely placed anteriorly. 

 There is a similar bar on the back of the head. The Ventrum 

 is uniform pearly -white, creamy, or yellowish. It is a 

 remarkably handsome little reptile. 



Habits. — (a) Haunts : Most of the specimens that have come 

 into my hands have been found inside bungalows. One came 

 right under a friend's chair after dinner one night. Others 

 sent to me were either found in the house or about the pot 

 plants. 



Dr. Henderson tells me that when captured it has a curious 

 habit of twisting itself into knots. Abercromby mentions 

 finding one in his bath. 



(6) Disposition : I know nothing of this snake in life. 



(c) Nocturnal or Diurnal : The vertical shape of the pupil 

 indicates a nocturnal habit, and this is borne out by actual 

 experience. 



(d) Progression : One I tried to kill was wonderfully active, 

 and managed to evade several strokes I aimed at it. It climbs 

 well, and not infrequently falls, or is dislodged from the roofs 

 of houses where it has taken up quarters. 



Food. — I have no records of this, but Dr. Henderson tells me 

 that he once found a skink (Mabuia carinata) in the stomach 

 of one. 



Breeding. — Nothing known. 



Growth. — The smallest specimen I have had, and a hatchling 

 I believe, was between 4 and 5 inches in length. Date of 

 capture not on record. My largest specimens were 520 mm. 

 long (I foot 8 inches). 



Lepidosis. — (a) Typical — Rostral : The rostro -nasal sutures 

 rather shorter than the rostro -internasal, and nearly twice the 

 rostro -labials. Internasals : The suture between them equal 

 to, or rather shorter than that between the prefrontals, half 

 to two -thirds the internaso -prefrontals. Prxfrontals : 

 Touch the internasal, postnasal, loreal, praeocular, and 

 supraocular ; the suture between them subequal to the 

 prsefronto -frontal. Frontal : The fronto -supraocular sutures 

 twice the fronto -parietals. Supraoculars : As long as the 

 frontal, half to two -thirds the breadth of the frontal along a 



