SNAKES OF CEYLON. 283 



Breeding. — Nothing known. 



Growth.— Grows to 1,065 mm. (3J feet). 



Lepidosis. — Typical : Head shields as detailed under 

 ceylonensis. 



Costals : Vertebrals about as broad as long, broader than 

 the scales in the ultimata row. Ultimate row with scales 

 rather longer than broad. In 19 rows to behind midbody, 

 reducing to 15 or 13 two heads-lengths before the vent. The 

 reduction of rows is due to the absorption of the uppermost 

 into the vertebrals twice, and the fusion of the third and 

 fourth rows from the ventrals once. Ventrals : 248 to 266. 

 Anal : Entire. Subcaudals : 111 to 129. The ventrals and 

 subcaudals taken together range from 362 to 390. 



Dentition. — I have no skull. 



Distribution. — (a) General: Hills in Southern India and 

 Ceylon. 



(b) Local: It appears to be rather uncommon in Ceylon. 

 I have seen three specimens from Peradeniya, and I acquired 

 a fine specimen in Kandy. It was not represented in the 

 Colombo Museum when I examined the collection in 1920. 



Dipsadomorphtts BARNESi (Gunther). 



(Named in honour of Mr. Barnes.) 



Barnes's Gatsnake. 



Synonymy.— Nil. 



History. — Described by Gunther in 1869. 



General Characters. — Very similar to those of ceylonensis. 

 The tail is about one-fourth the total length. 



Identification. — The costal rows 19 two heads-lengths 

 behind the head to well behind midbody, 15 two heads-lengths 

 before the vent, and the three prseoculars will denote this 

 species among Ceylon snakes. 



Colouration. — Pale neutral tint dorsally, with a vertebral 

 series of large pale spots, edged with purplish -brown. A 

 series of large purplish -brown irregular spots in the flanks, the 

 most anterior of which form oblique streaks. Head purplish- 

 brown powdered with grayish. A broad post ocular dark 



