306 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Variety E* : Greenish -yellow or pale-green above, each 

 scale edged, and mesially streaked with black. The black 

 heavier in parts so as to form more or less distinct cross-bars. 

 A series of large coral-red or orange spots along the spine, 

 separated by two cross-bars. Ventrally yellow, with a small 

 black spot laterally on each shield. 



Variety F.* : — Pale olive above, with regular black cross-bars 

 tapering laterally ; some of the black scales with yellow shafts. 

 Whitish -olive beneath, with a lateral black spot on each ventral. 

 The head in both is barred with black and yellow. 



Habits. — (a) Haunts ; Very opposite opinions prevail as to 

 its haunts. Cantor says it is seldom seen in trees, but more 

 frequently on the ground in the grass. Stoliczka supports 

 this observation, and says though he caught several specimens 

 in the grass or between low bushes, he but once saw one 

 actually on a bush. Flower, on the other hand, says his 

 experiences are very different in this as in other matters from 

 those related by Cantor, and he agrees with Gunther's sugges- 

 tion that the reason it is not more often seen in trees is because 

 it makes a too rapid retreat. 



I am able to support both parties, for I have seen it high 

 in a tree on a naked limb, and on several occasions on bushes, 

 or on the trellis work about tennis courts and verandahs. I 

 never met it on the ground myself, but many of the specimens 

 brought me were reported on the ground. I have not the least 

 doubt that the species is essentially arboreal in habit, but this 

 does not prevent it making frequent excursions to the ground, 

 either in search of a fresh feeding area, or in the pursuit of the 

 incautious quarry, which its keen vision has detected from its 

 exalted station amid the branches overhead. 



It is only natural that it should be more frequently 

 encountered on the ground, because the eyes of the pedestrian 

 are directed below the level of his head, even at his feet. 

 Men other than birds -nest ers, fern and orchid hunters, and 

 such like do not gaze much aloft, and the snake reclining along 



* Cf Boulenger. Catalogue Snakes British Museum, Vol. III., 1896, 

 page 196. 



