SNAKES OF CEYLON. 287 



(c) Striking Posture : This is very typical of that displayed 

 by all the members of the genus with which I am acquainted. 

 The forebody is raised off the ground, and retracted into 

 figure-of-8 loops, two superimposed and thrown to one side, 

 and one on the opposite side. The head is retained in the 

 middle line. While thus poised the snake inflates itself very 

 considerably. Suddenly a lunge forward straightens the loops, 

 the jaws are quickly opened, and as quickly close on the object 

 of its anger. The snake then re -adopts its attitude of menace. 



(d) Nocturnal or Diurnal : It is nocturnal in habit, and on 

 this account appears to be a more uncommon snake than is 

 probably the case. 



Food. — Mr. N. Warde tells me that it is a voracious poultry 

 eater, and also robs his pigeon houses, ascending by the one 

 smooth supporting post. One invaded one of his servants' 

 quarters at night, and caused a considerable stir among the 

 inmates. When the neighbourhood was thoroughly awakened, 

 and he advanced into the room, he found the snake in the act 

 of swallowing a white fowl, and it continued to swallow with 

 apparent unconcern, in spite of the assembled throng of 

 spectators. A specimen brought to me in Berhampore 

 (Orissa) had fed on a large bat. One in captivity in Bombay 

 ate freely the lizards Calotes versicolor offered to it, and spar- 

 rows, and on one occasion a mouse. 



Breeding. — (a) The Sexes: No special observations have 

 been made on the sexes. 



(b) Method of Reproduction : Said to be oviparous. Aber- 

 cromby says eggs have been deposited in his vivarium. The 

 Balrampur snakemen also assured me it lays eggs. 



(c) Season: Abercromby records the laying of eggs in 

 August and September. 



(d) Period of Gestation : Not known. 



(e) Period of Incubation : Not known. 



(/) The Eggs: The Balrampur snakemen told me it lays 

 from seven to nine eggs in the hot weather. Abercromby 

 gives us no details of the eggs deposited in captivity. 



Growth. — (a) The Hatchling : Nothing known. The smallest 

 specimen I am aware of was 525 mm. (1 foot 8f inches) in 

 September, and killed in the Nilgiris. 



