SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



399 



may be entire. Cuneate : A complete row succeeds the 1st, 

 2nd, or 3rd infralabials. (Fig. 75.) 



8 



Fig. 75. — Astrotia stokesi. 

 (Life size.) 



Costals : Longer than broad and strongly imbricate every- 

 where, with irregularly dentate posterior borders, especially 

 in the lowest rows ; with short keels, sometimes bidentate in 

 the median four-sixths of each scale. In 41 to 48 rows two 

 heads-lengths behind the head ; 48 to 59 in midbody ; and 

 41 to 50 two heads-lengths before the vent. Ventrals : 

 Absent except for a short length anteriorly, replaced after- 

 wards by 230 to 267 paired strongly imbricate scales, with 

 irregularly dentate posterior borders. Anal : Variable. 



