214 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Costals : In 15 rows in the whole body length. Those 

 about the anal region are keeled, but not claw-like. 



Ventrals: 112 to 135 (^ 112 to 119,? 135). Subcaudals : 

 18 to 26 (<? 26, $ 18). 



(b) Anomalies — Subcaudals : It is not unusual to find 

 some entire at the base of the tail. 



Dentition. — Maxillary : 21 to 29 ? Palatine : 25 ? Ptery- 

 goid : 29 ? Mandibular : 27 ? 



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



(6) Local : All the specimens obtained by Mr. Drummond- 

 Hay, he tells me, came from Hopewell estate, Balangoda 

 district, at about 4,000 feet. 



Genus DENDROPHIS. 



(Greek " dendron " tree, " ophis " snake.) 



General Characters (for Indian species). — Small snakes, the 

 largest hardly reaching 3 feet. Extremely elegant in colour- 

 ing, and graceful in conformation. Head elongately pear- 

 shaped, markedly depressed. Snout moderately long, much 

 depressed, broadly rounded terminally, with an obtusely 

 rounded canthus. Lore concave. Eye large, with round 

 pupil. Nostril lateral, round, occupying the full depth of 

 the suture between the nasals. Neck distinct. Body 

 elongate, slender, cylindrical, attenuating towards the neck, 

 and Very gradually posteriorly. Belly with pronounced 

 lateral keels. Tail long, about one third, or more than a 

 third, the total length. 



Identification. — The enlarged vertebrals, and keeled ventrals 

 will proclaim this genus or Dendrelaphis. The maxillary 

 teeth increase in size posteriorly in Dendrophis, but decrease 

 in Dendrelaphis ,or are of equal length. See fig. 45 (a) and (c). 



Habits. — Arboreal. Diurnal. Very active. Courageous. 



Food. — Chiefly lizards, and tree-frogs. 



Breeding.— -Oviparous . 



Poison. — Non-poisonous. 



