208 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Lepidosis. — As detailed for the genus, except Prefrontals : 

 Touch the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th supralabials, the eye, and the 

 supraocular. Supraoculars : Less than half the length of the 

 frontal, and about one -third the parietals. Parietals : Touch 

 two postoculars. Prseocular : Absent. Temporal : Twice 

 the length of the supraocular. 



Costals : In 17 rows in the whole body length. Obtusely 

 keeled near the anal region. Ventrals : 123 to 150. Sub- 

 caudals : 20 to 35 ; some or all entire. 



Dentition. — From one skull in my collection. Maxillary : 

 23 to 24. Palatine: 17 to 18 (?). Pterygoid: 30 to 34 (?). 

 Mandibular ; 23. 



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



(o) Local : Has been reported from Dikoya, Balangoda, 

 and Avissawella. Mr. Drummond-Hay tells me it was not 

 uncommon at Hopewell, Balangoda district, at about 4,000 

 feet, otherwise he has not met with it. No less than four 

 were dislodged from one field when cleaning out the silt from 

 drains. 



Aspidura guentheri Ferguson. 

 Gunther's Aspidura. 

 (Named in honour of Mr. Gunther, for many years the Custodian 

 of the Reptile Department in the British Museum.) 



Synonymy. — Nil. 



History. — Christened in 1876 by the late Mr. W. Ferguson, 

 F.L.S., for many years a notable figure, and a distinguished 

 man of science in Colombo. 



General Characters. — As detailed for the genus. The snout 

 is subacute. The body is very short, and the tail accounts for 

 about one-eighth to one-ninth the total length. 



Identification. — The costals in 17 rows, the absence of a 

 prseocular, and only one postocular touching the parietal will 

 declare the species. 



Colouration. — Dorsally nearly uniform darkish brown. 

 When looked into this is seen to consist of a powdering of 

 dark brown on a lighter ground. Three series of small dark 

 spots on the back, one vertebral, and the others on the fifth 

 row above the Ventrals. The vertebral series continues on to 



