SNAKES OF CEYLON. 227 



when cut open were found to contain minute embryos curled 

 up in a small oval chamber about the middle of the yolk. 

 (See Fig. 46.) 



rm> ) 



Fig. 46. — Egg of Dendrelaphis tristis showing chamber and embryo. 



(Life size.) 



Growth. — (a) Length of Young : The smallest specimen 

 I have seen measured 261 mm. (10 \ inches). This was killed 

 on August 28 at Marmagoa, West Coast, India, and appeared 

 to be a hatchling. It is Very remarkable that this is the only 

 very young example that has passed through my hands in 25 

 years. 



(b) Early Life : I have not been able to ascertain the 

 annual growth of this species, not having a long enough 

 series to indicate the broods of successive years. 



(c) Maturity : The smallest gravid specimen I know of 

 measured 521 mm. (3 feet 4 J inches). 



(d) Maximum Length: My largest measurement is 1,240 

 mm. (4 feet). Abercromby gives a similar length. Boulenger 

 says it attains to 1310 mm. (4 feet 2f inches), the tail 420 mm. 

 (16J inches). 



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

 longer than the rostro-internasals, more than twice the 

 rostro-labials. Internasals : The suture between them 

 subequal to that between the prefrontals, and subequal to 

 the internaso -prefrontals. Prefrontals : Touching the 

 internasal, postnasal, loreal, prseocular, and supraocular ; 

 the suture between them longer than the prsefronto -frontal. 

 Frontal : The fronto -supraocular sutures more than twice 

 the front o-parietals. Supraoculars : As long as the frontal, 



