SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Oligodon t^niolatus * (Jerdon). 



The Variegated Kukri Snake. 



Synonymy. — Simotes binotatus, Xenodon dubium, Oli- 

 godon spilonotus, O.fasciatus, 0. subgriseus, Coronellatseniolata. 



History. — Russell appears to have been the first to notice 

 it, and he gives a good figure in his first volume (1796, Plate 

 XIX.). Jerdon christened it in 1853. 



General Characters. — As detailed for the genus. There 

 is no indication of a neck. The tail is about one-seventh 

 the total length. 



Identification. — The costals in 15 rows in the whole body 

 length, a divided anal, and from 38 to 56 subcaudals will 

 indicate the species. 



Colouration. — Like many other snakes 0. t&niolatus 

 presents considerable differences in its colour and markings. 

 Of the various forms I think four deserve special mention, 

 but the fact that the first three of these are completely 

 connected shows they are all merely variations of a single 

 variety. The fourth form is, I think, probably a distinct 

 species as Gunther originally believed it, however, I prefer 

 for the present to leave it as placed by Boulenger. 



f (a) Variety typicus : This is the tseniolatus of Jerdon, 

 and is well figured by Russell.} It conforms to variety A 



* It seems to me that the designation of this species should be 

 0. tceniolatus (Jerdon). He describes a snake in the Journal of the 

 Asiatic Society of Bengal (Vol. XXII., 1853, page 528) under this 

 name, with 15 rows of scales, ventrals 185, and subcaudals 41, and 

 cites Russell's Plate XIX. of Volume I., so that there can be no doubt 

 to what he alluded saying "it is common at Madras." This name 

 antedates Dumeril and Bibron's Oligodon subgriseus bestowed in 1854 ; 

 but the latter is the one with which all have grown familiar. 



f As I am not certain whether all of these forms occur in Ceylon, 

 I have given the varieties in detail, hoping thereby to elucidate the 

 matter. I have seen a specimen of fasciatus from Ceylon. 



1 Loc. cit. 



