SNAKES OF CEYLON. 249 



subequal to that between the prefrontal pair, less than 

 half the internaso-prsefrontals. Prefrontals : Tlie suture 

 between them half the prsefronto-frontals ; touching the 

 internasal, postnasal, loreal, prseocular, and supraocular. 

 Frontal : The fronto -supraocular sutures subequal to or 

 rather longer than the fronto -parietals. Supraoculars : About 

 three-fourths the length of the frontal, and less than halt 

 of that shield along a line connecting the centres of the eyes. 

 Parietals: As long as the frontal. Nasals: Divided. Loreal. 

 Rather longer than deep ; half the length of the nasals. 

 Prseocular : Not reaching the top of the head. Postoculars : 

 Two ; one or both touching the parietals. Temporals : One ; 

 about two -thirds the length of the supraoculars. Supra- 

 labials : Seven ; the 1st and 2nd touching the nasals, 3rd 

 and 4th the eye, and the 5th and 6th the temporal. Sublin- 

 guals : The posterior touching the 4th, or 3rd and 4th, infra- 

 labials. Infralabials : Four ; the 4th as long as the posterior 

 sublinguals, and rather broader than those shields ; touching 

 two scales behind. 



Costals : Vertebral row : Breadth about three -fourths 

 their length ; about two -thirds the ultimate row ; the last 

 four rows gradually enlarging. Ultimate row : Breadth of 

 scales subequal to their length. In 15 rows in the whole 

 body length, or reducing to 13 shortly before the Vent. The 

 reduction of rows is due to the absorption of the third row 

 from the ventrals. Ventrals : 130 to 160 ($ 130 to 144, $ 

 149 to 160) ; obtusely angulate laterally. Anal : Divided. 

 Subcaudals : 23 to 36 (<? 32 to 36, ? 23 to 30) ; divided. 



(b) Anomalies — Supralabials : I have found the second and 

 third completely confluent. 



Dentition. — From two skulls in my collection. Maxillary : 

 7 to 8 ; an edentulous space anteriorly that would take about 

 two teeth. Paladne : None. Pterygoid : 4 to 6 ; a long 

 edentulous space anteriorly. Mandibular : 9 to 10 ; an eden- 

 tulous space anteriorly that would take two or three teeth. 



Distribution. — (a) General: Ceylon. The Nicobar Islands (?)* 



(b) Local: A low-country snake, which, Haly says, will 

 ascend to about 4,000 feet. Ferguson reported it common 

 * I discredit this locality. 



37 6(6)20 



