240 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



of Boulenger. The ground colour is buff, pale-brown, cedar- 

 brown, or more rarely a light dun. There is a conspicuous 

 variegation caused by lighter and darker streaks on the 

 anterior -inferior margins of some of the scales. The darker 

 streaks show a marked tendency to congregate at intervals 

 and arrange themselves into cross-bars, which are usually 

 narrowly outlined with buff. These cross-bars nairow or 

 actually break up in the flanks, and are often ill-defined. 

 In many specimens an intermediate series of a less distinct 

 character alternate with them. If looked for, longitudinal 

 stripes similar to those in variety (b) are, I think, usually 

 apparent, though often obscure, and the Vertebral streak 

 is often interrupted. The belly is unspotted, and the head 

 marks as in variety (b). It is much the commonest form 

 and the most widely distributed. Russell's specimen was 

 from Vizagapatam, and Jerdon recorded it from Madras. 

 Blanford obtained it in Ellore and Ajmere. In the Bombay 

 ^atural History Society's collection there are specimens 

 from Bombay, Deolali, Karwar, Khandalla, Khandesh, and 

 Goa Ghats. I have lately seen a specimen in the Indian 

 Museum from Dhikala (Garhwal District), and have acquired 

 specimens myself from Delhi, Cannanore, Madras, Trichinopoly, 

 Tutucorin, Vizianagram, Hyderabad (Sind), Dehra Dun, 

 and Shembaganur. In the British Museum it is recorded 

 from the Anamallaj^s. 



(b) Variety ceylonicus (Wall) : The ground colour is 

 buff, and four more or less obvious, pale, brownish stripes 

 pass down the body. The two upper and broader pass from 

 the nape where they are confluent to the tail tip. On the 

 body they involve the edge .of the Vertebral and two and 

 a half adjoining rows. The lower and narrower stripes pass 

 from the neck to the Vent, and are placed on the contiguous 

 halves of the 2nd and 3rd rows above the Ventrals. The 

 pale vertebral line is continuous and confined to the middle 

 of the Vertebral row, except anteriorly, where it expands to 

 the margins of the uppermost costal row. In many of these 

 specimens, an indication of the cross-bars typical of the 

 next form may be seen, if looked for, in the anterior part of 

 the body. The belly is pearly-white and unspotted. The 



