SNAKES OF CEYLON. 383 



bands, which are usually narrower than the intervals at 

 midcosta. These bands expand vertebrally, but are not 

 connected ventrally even anteriorly. The head is yellow 

 with an arched black moustache. There is also a black mark, 

 often bifid on the nape and occiput, extending forwards to the 

 prefrontals, which tends to break up into an indefinite 

 mottling in old subjects. There is also a short, vertical, 

 lateral, black neck stripe. 



Habits, Food, and Breeding. — Have not been remarked 

 upon. 



Growth. — Maximum Length : Evans and I got specimens 

 measuring 997 and 1,055 mm. (3 feet 3J inches and 3 feet 5 J 

 inches, respectively). Russell's type was 1,017 mm. (3 feet 

 4 inches). 



Poison. — Russell caused a fowl to be bitten by his specimen, 

 the bird succumbing seven minutes later. No casualties 

 have been reported and no experimental work done with the 

 poison. 



Lepidosis. — The head shields are subject to an even greater 

 variation than is usual in hydrophids, most of them being 

 prone to division. 



(a) Typical — Rostral : Broader than deep ; the portion 

 visible above half to three-fifths the suture between the 

 nasals. Nasals : Two sutures usually radiate from the 

 nostril, one to the prefrontals, the other to the 2nd supra- 

 labials. Prefrontals: Do not touch the 2nd supralabials . 

 Frontal ; Entire, longer than broad ; the fr onto -parietal 

 sutures longest. Supraoculars : Length half to two-thirds 

 the frontal ; breadth half to two -thirds the frontal. Parietals : 

 Entire ; touching the upper postoculars. Pr&oculars : One. 

 Postoculars : One or two. Temporals : Undifferentiated and 

 replaced by small scales, two usually being superimposed 

 anteriorly. Supralabials : Seven to nine ; all from the first 

 backwards are prone to division, forming pseudo-loreals and 

 pseudo lower prse- and postoculars ; 1st and 2nd touching the 

 nasals ; 3rd and 4th, or 3rd, 4th, and 5th the eye. Sublinguals : 

 Two well-developed pairs, the posterior usually completely 

 separated. Infralabials : Four ; the suture between the first 

 subequal to that between the anterior sublinguals ; 4th 



