236 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



(d) Period of Gestation: Not known. 



(e) Number of Eggs : I have had one female with four eggs, 

 and another containing five eggs. 



(/) The Eggs : The eggs just alluded to measured 36 mm. 

 b^v 10 mm. (1t% by 2 7 o inches), and were remarkably elongate. 



Growth. — -(a) Length of Young: My smallest specimens, 

 which appeared to be hatchlings, were 168 and 170 mm. 

 (6| and 6§ inches). 



(b) Early Life : From my records it would appear that 

 the young grow some 4 or 5 inches in the first year of life, and 

 are then 10 to 12 inches long, and 3 or 4 inches in the second 

 year, when they are 15 to 18 inches. At the end of the third 

 year they are over 20 inches. 



(c) Maturity: My smallest gravid female measured 564 

 mm. (1 foot 9| inches), and would be, I think, about 3 

 years old. 



(d) Maximum Length: Specimens exceeding 620 mm. 

 (2 feet) are Very unusual. Gunther mentions one 645 mm. 

 long (2 feet 1 inch), and I have had two 620 mm. and 630 mm. 

 (2 feet and 2 feet and f of an inch). 



Lepidosis. — (a) Typical — Rostral: The rostro-nasals and 

 rostro-internasal sutures are subequal and much longer than 

 the rostro -labial. Inter nasals : The suture between them 

 is rather less than or subequal to that between the prefron- 

 tals ; half or less than half the internaso -prefrontals. Pre- 

 frontals : The suture between them is shorter than the prse- 

 fronto-frontals ; touching the internasal, postnasal, loreal, 

 praeocular, and supraocular. Frontal: The fronto -supraocular 

 sutures are a little longer than the fronto -pari etals. Supra- 

 oculars : Shorter than the frontal, about half the breadth of 

 the frontal along a line connecting the centres of the eyes. 

 Parietals : Length subequal to the frontal. Nasals : Divided. 

 Loreal : About as long as high, shorter than the nasals. 

 Prseocular : One, not reaching the top of the head. Post- 

 oculars : Two. Temporals : One, nearly as long as the supra- 

 ocular. Supralabials : Seven ; the 1st and 2nd touching the 

 nasals ; 3rd and 4th the eye ; and 5th and 6th the temporal. 



