SNAKES OF CEYLON. 337 



Growth. — (a) The Young ; One of the embryos extracted 

 from the type specimen was 332 mm. (14J- inches) long. How 

 much more these were destined to grow before birth it is 

 impossible to say, but it seems probable that they had acquired 

 their full prsenatal development, as the young of cantoris, a 

 much larger snake, are only 330 to 373 mm. (13 to 14§ inches) 

 long at birth. 



(b) Early Life : I have not been able to follow the growth. 



(c) Maturity : My smallest gravid female was 750 mm. 

 (2 feet 5 J inches). 



(d) Maximum Length : The type is the largest of about 

 twenty specimens examined by me, and measures 1,029 mm. 

 (3 feet 11 inches). Dr. Annandale has reported one 1,220 mm. 

 (4 feet) in length. 



Poison. — Nothing known. No casualties have been reported, 

 and the venom has not been experimented with. 



Epizoa and Epiphyta. — Dr. Annandale remarks that he has 

 found no hydroids nor barnacles attached to this species. 



Lepidosis. — The head shielding is wonderfully constant in 

 its arrangement. 



(a) Typical — Rostral : Broader than deep ; slightly project- 

 ing downwards ; the visible portion above half to three-fifths 

 the suture between the nasal shields. Nasals : Usually with 

 one suture passing to the 2nd supralabial. Prefrontals : 

 Touching the 2nd supralabials. Frontal : Entire ; longer than 

 broad ; the fronto -parietal sutures longer than the fronto- 

 supraoculars. Parietals : Entire ; touching the postoculars. 

 Prxoculars : One. Postoculars : One. Temporals : A large 

 anterior which is as long as or longer than the supraocular, 

 followed by as large or a larger posterior. Supralabials : Six 

 or seven ; the anterior five large, 6th and 7th small, the 6th 

 usually confluent with the anterior temporal, which thus 

 descends to the margin of the lip ; 1st and 2nd touching the 

 nasals ; 3rd and 4th the eye ; 5th and 6th the anterior temporal ; 

 and the 6th usually the posterior temporal. Sublinguals : 

 Two pairs, the fellows of each in contact. Infralabials : Four ; 

 the 1st as long as or longer than the anterior sublinguals, 3rd 

 and 4th touching the posterior sublinguals ; 4th largest and 



