252 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



young specimens, but this and the dorsal lines become obscure 

 or even effaced with age. 



Some young specimens exhibit white linear stripes on the 

 confines of the 2nd and 3rd, 4th and 5th, 6th and 7th, 7th and 

 8th rows and the 8th row and vertebrals, all of which begin in 

 the neck and end at the vent. The belly is uniform pale 

 3^ellow. 



Habits. — Nothing known. 



Food. — No observations have been recorded as to its diet. 



Breeding. — (a) Method of Reproduction : It is not known 

 whether it is oviparous or viviparous. 



(b) Season : A specimen 125 mm. (5 inches) long, which 

 seemed to have just embarked upon life, was captured in the 

 Nilgiris early in August. 



Growth. — (a) Length of Young: Gunther mentions a 

 specimen 102 mm. (4 inches long), and I have had one seem- 

 ingly just born or hatched that was 125 mm. (5 inches). 



(b) Early Life: It appears to double its length in the first 

 year of life, being then about 215 to 256 mm. (8f to 10J inches) 

 long. 



(c) Maximum Length: Gunther gives 407 mm. (16 inches), 

 the tail 102 mm. (4 inches). I have seen no larger example. 



Lepidosis. — (a) Typical — Rostral: The rostro -nasal sutures 

 are longer than the rostro -in ternasals and the rostro -labials. 

 Internasals : The suture between them about three-fourths 

 that between the prefrontals, half or less than half the inter- 

 naso -prefrontals. Prefrontals : The suture between them 

 about three-fourths the prsefronto-frontals ; touching the 

 internasal, nasal, prseocular, and supraocular. Frontal: The 

 fronto -supraocular sutures rather longer than the fronto- 

 parietals. Supraoculars : Length about four-fifths the frontal, 

 breadth about half the frontal along a line connecting the 

 centres of the eyes. Nasal : Entire, elongate, apparently 

 confluent with the loreal, touching the praeocular. Loreal : 

 Absent. Prseocular. One ; not reaching the top of the head. 

 Postoculars : Two. Temporal : One. Supralabials : Seven ; 

 the 1st and 2nd touching the nasals, the 3rd and 4th the eye, 

 and the 5th and 6th the temporal. Sublinguals: The pos- 

 terior rather shorter than the anterior ; touching the 4th and 



