SNAKES OF CEYLON. 355 



breadth, in some dilated vertebrally, in others they taper 

 ventrally. Some of the posterior are sometimes interrupted 

 costally. In some the black is preserved for a variable 

 extent dorsally, and becomes almost obsolescent ventrally. 

 In some the bands are discrete vertebrally and ventrally, 

 and in others they become more or less confluent 

 vertebrally, and more or less connected by a broad stripe 

 ventrally. The various colour varieties may be grouped as 

 follows : — 



A. — Bands complete throughout. 



(1) brugmansi (Boie) ; vel. bishopi (Murray). With 



bands narrower than the interspaces and uncon- 

 nected vertebrally. No vertebral nor ventral 

 spots in the intervals. Very analogous to variety 

 B of cyanocincta. One of the commonest 

 varieties. 



(2) spiralis (Shaw). Differing from the last only in 



exhibiting one or more single vertebral spots 

 in the interspaces. There are usually only a few 

 such spots anteriorly and posteriorly, but rarely 

 there is a complete series. A fairly common 

 variety. 



(3) Similar to the last, with, in addition, black spots 

 in some of the interspaces ventrally. It is a fairly 

 common Variety. I have seen three specimens in 

 the Colombo Museum. In No. 113 both the verte- 

 bral and ventral spots form a complete series. Two 

 out of the three specimens in the Madras Museum 

 were of this variety, but neither the vertebral nor 

 ventral series were complete. 



(4) With bands nearly as broad or broader than 

 the light interspaces, more or less connected, 

 especially anteriorly, by a ventral stripe. Very 

 analogous to variety A (1) of cyanocincta. Rather 

 uncommon, 



51 6(6)20 



