318 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



that it is protective, and that like the stripes of the tiger 

 and zebra the bands break up the contour of the snake in 

 its submarine haunts and assist in concealing it, so that it 

 is not observed by its prey until well within striking distance. 



Habits. — (a) Haunts : All the species are marine. They 

 mostly frequent the close vicinity of the coasts, and fre- 

 quently find their way up tidal rivers for fifty or even a 

 hundred miles. They are often observed in and about the 

 rocks that fringe the shore. On the other hand, they are 

 frequently observed in the sea as many as a hundred or 

 more miles from any coast. 



(b) Disposition : They exhibit an extraordinarily peaceful 

 nature, and it is most unusual for one to attempt to bite. 

 This is borne out by the fact that although the seas literally 

 swarm with them, bathers and fisher folk are practically 

 never bitten. There are scarcely any records of casualties 

 even among the fishermen, who haul them in by the dozen 

 every day in their nets. The snakes so caught are handled 

 fearlessly by those drawing in the nets, who throw them back 

 into the sea. Dr. Annandale remarks, on the authority of 

 fishermen, that when a casualty does occur, it is usually in 

 the surf. The snakes that come too close to the shore in 

 the monsoon are sometimes rolled over and over impotently 

 by successive waves, and as the result of the battering they 

 receive, they are apt to wreath themselves round any support, 

 and plunge their teeth into it. 



(c) Nocturnal or Diurnal : They appear to be completely 

 diurnal. 



(d) Progression : They swim with grace and ease, and 

 can move expeditiously in the water when danger urges them 

 to do so. Sometimes they may be seen swimming with the 

 head and some inches of the forebody pushed up vertically, 

 as though to inspect their surroundings. When hustled they 

 frequently plunge deeply and disappear. On land the 

 compressed and heavy conformation of their bodies makes 

 progression almost impossible, and they lie over helplessly 

 on their sides. Species of the genus Platurus, however, are 

 not so handicapped, and can progress fairly well on land. 



