248 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Oligodon sublineatus Dumeril and Bibron. 



(Latin " sub " beneath, and Ct lineatus " lined, referring 

 to the dark lines on the belly.) 



DumeriVs Kukri Snake. 



Synonymy.— Nil. 



History. — It was described by Dumeril and Bibron in 1854. 



General Characters. — As detailed under the genus. Neck 

 not constricted. Body slender, and of even calibre through- 

 out. Tail about one-ninth the total length. 



Identification. — As indicated under the last species. It 

 bears a striking superficial resemblance to the poisonous 

 snake Callophis trimaculatus. 



Colouration. — Dorsally brown, with a series of paired 

 dark brown light-edged smallish spots, which occasionally 

 alternate. A chevron-shaped dark band on the snout, 

 reappearing beneath the eye. A similar transverse band 

 en the posterior half of the frontal and extending on to the 

 parietals. A band on the nape, sometimes interrupted, 

 sometimes extending forwards to meet the band previously 

 noted. Ventrally yellowish, with three series of dark spots, 

 the lateral often confluent to form a stripe, the median 

 ending at the Vent. 



Habits. — Nothing known. Mr. Green informed me that 

 Dr. Escherich found one in a nest of termites of the species 

 Termes redemanni. 



Food. — Nothing known. 



Breeding. — Nothing known. 



Growth. — The maximum length appears to that reported 

 by Boulenger as 315 mm. (12 J inches), tail 35 mm. (If 

 inches). 



Parasites. — (a) Ectozoa : I have found many mites attached 

 to this snake at times. Some submitted by me to Professor 

 Nuttall, I am informed, are larval forms of some undeter- 

 minable species, probably a Oekobia. It is shown in Fig. 19. 



Lepidosis. — {a) Typical — Rostral : The rostro-nasal and 

 rostro-internasal sutures subequal and longer than the 

 rostro-labials. Inter nasals : The suture between them 



