398 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Growth. — (a) The Young : The exact measurements at 

 birth are not known. 



(b) Maturity : The gravid female referred to above measured 

 1,474 mm. (4 feet 10 inches). 



(c) Maximum Length : A specimen mentioned by Gunther 

 is 1,550 mm. (5 feet 1 inch), and I examined a specimen in the 

 Colombo Museum of almost exactly the same proportions. 

 The extreme girth of Gunther's specimen was reported as 

 254 mm. (10 inches). The girth of a Colombo specimen was 

 228mm. (9 inches). D'Albertis in his book " New Guinea " 

 (1880, Vol. I., p. 179) mentions one killed off the coast of New 

 Guinea that measured 1,830 mm. (6 feet). 



Poison. — Nothing known. No casualties have been 

 reported, and no experimental laboratory work accom- 

 plished. 



Epiphytes. — The specimen alluded to by Boulenger was 

 covered with a dense growth of alga3. Two or three species 

 of Ulvx and two or three species of Enteromorphse were 

 identified. 



Lepidosis.— (a) Typical — Rostral : About as deep a« broad : 

 the portion visible above about half to two -thirds the suture 

 between the nasals. Nasals: Sutures from the nostrils, if 

 present, proceed to the prefrontals posteriorly and the 2nd 

 supralabial. Prefrontals : . Touch the 2nd supralabials. 

 Frontal : Entire ; longer than broad ; the fronto -parietal 

 sutures equal to or rather longer than the fronto -supra- 

 oculars. Parietals : Entire ; touching the upper postoculars. 

 Prseoculars : One. Postoculars ; Two. Temporals : Not 

 developed, replaced by small scales. Supralabials : Eight to 

 eleven, subject to much variation ; the 3rd and succeeding 

 shields frequently divided into an upper and lower part, 

 forming the suboculars, third postoculars, and lower temporals 

 of some authors. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd touch the nasals ; 4th, 

 5th, and 6th the eye. Sublinguals : Absent. Infralabials : 

 Very variable and subject to division ; the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd 



