SNAKES OF CEYLON. 351 



Habits. — There is nothing known that calls for special 

 remark. 



Food. — No special observations have been made on its diet. 



Breeding. — (a) Season : This is not known, the one gravid 

 female known to me having no record of its date of capture. 



(b) Method of Reproduction : Definitely known to be vivi- 

 parous. 



(c) Period of Gestation : Not known. 



(d) The Brood : The single gravid female on record contained 

 three embryos and one unfertilized egg. The birth of the 

 young appeared imminent, as none had the genitalia pro- 

 truding (unless all were females). They measured from 305 

 to 307 mm. (12 to 12J inches). 



Growth. — (a) The Young : The exact length of the young 

 at birth is not known. 



(b) Maturity : The gravid specimen above alluded to was 

 832 mm. (2 feet 8f inches) in length. 



(c) Maximum Length : 832 mm. (2 feet 8f inches) is the 

 longest measurement I know. 



Poison. — Nothing known. 



Lepidosis. — Except for the posterior labials and temporals, 

 the lepidosis of the head is remarkably constant. 



(a) Typical — Rostral : The portion visible above is from half 

 to three-fifths the suture between the nasals. Nasals : Sutures 

 usually radiate from the nostril to the prefrontal and the 2nd 

 supralabial. Prefrontals : Touch the 2nd supralabial. 

 Frontal : Longer than broad ; the fr onto -parietal sutures 

 rather longer than the fronto-supraoculars. Parietals : 

 Entire ; touching the upper postoculars. Prseocular : One. 

 Postoculars: Two. Temporals: Small and very variable, not 

 deserving recognition as such. Sometimes one well-developed 

 anterior, more often two or three, small scales. Supralabials : 

 Seven ; the first four entire, the posterior subject to division ; 

 1st and 2nd touching the nasals ; 3rd and 4th the eye. Sub- 

 linguals : Two pairs ; the fellows of each in contact with one 

 another. Infralabials : Eour ; the suture between the 1st 

 shorter than that between the anterior sublinguals ; 4th 



