SNAKES OF CEYLON. 309 



spite of this they renewed the combat in the water." Dr. 

 Malcolm -Smith says he knows of several cases where this snake 

 engaged a tuctoo, and adds "it is not always that the snake 

 comes out of these combats unharmed, and considering the 

 tremendous bite which this lizard can give, it is not surprising. 

 In one encounter, at least that I know of, the gecko had got 

 a firm hold immediately behind the head of its opponent, 

 although the snake ultimately proved the victor, it was so 

 badly damaged as to be only just afcle to crawl away, leaving 

 its victim uneaten.". 



(c) Nocturnal or Diurnal : It is completely diurnal in habit, 

 and may be met with sometimes on the hottest days, 

 apparently sunning itself, but more probably on the lookout 

 for food. 



(d) Progression : The striking beauty of this snake, whether 

 seen reclining or moving in its native haunt, could hardly fail 

 to arouse the keenest admiration in the breast of the most 

 unappreciative and phlegmatic disposition. 



I watched with admiration once the adroit and stealthy 

 manner in which one in captivity in the Colombo Museum 

 balanced itself and moved along my walking stick, though 

 this was more slender than the snake itself. 



Dillwyn describes this snake clinging to the trunk of a tree, 

 head downwards, in a very extraordinary manner, and I have 

 seen it in almost exactly similar circumstances. My specimen 

 was stationary, clinging (one could not say reclining) head 

 downwards, about 30 feet from the ground, to a large bare 

 trunk, which rose almost perpendicularly. I marvelled at the 

 tenacity of its grip in such a, situation. It had thrown its body 

 into a very wide S across the limb, and it strikes me now very 

 forcibly, after reading Flower's and Shelford's observations, 

 that it may have been " gathering itself " for a leap. The 

 enraptured observer will be even more captivated with the 

 grace and agility attending its movements from branch to 

 branch, and the consummate ease with which it will scale a 

 perpendicular trunk. Its flash-like disappearance aloft with- 

 out apparent effort, must be witnessed to be fully appreciated. 



