SNAKES OF CEYLON. 435 



Costals : Longer than broad, imbricate ; rectiform or 

 lateral rows somewhat oblique ; smooth or keeled. Vertebrals 

 enlarged in some, not in others. In from 13 to 25 rows. 

 Ventrals : Rounded. Three or more times the breadth of 

 the last costal row. Anal : Entire or divided. Subcaudals : 

 Entire or divided. 



Dentition (Indian species). — Maxillary : Proteroglyphous. 

 Prsenodal, two large canaliculate fangs. Postnodal, none 

 in Doliophis and some Callophis. When present, number 

 1 to 4, grooved on their outer faces ; isodont. Palatine : 

 6 to 14 ; isodont, or feebly scaphiodont. Pterygoid : 2 to 22 

 (Edentulous in Doliophis) ; scaphiodont. Mandibular : 8 to 

 21 ; scaphiodont. 



Distribution. — Africa, South Asia, North, Central, and 

 South America, Australia. 



Twenty-eight genera are comprised in the sub-family, of 

 which five come within Indian limits. Of these, three are 

 represented in Ceylon, viz., Naia, Bungarus, and Callophis. 



Genus BUNGARUS. 



(Latinized version of the Telugu word " bungarum," gold. 



This name is applied by the Telugus to the banded 



krait fasciatus, which has canary bands.) 



The members of this genus are many of them largish snakes 

 exceeding 3 and even 6 feet in length. They are terrestrial, 

 and certainly more nocturnal than diurnal in habit. They 

 live almost entirely on other snakes. 



General Characters. — The species attain to moderate or 

 considerable proportions, varying from about 2 to 6 feet. 

 Head subovate, moderately depressed, broadest midway 

 between the eyes and the neck. Snout short, slightly decli- 

 vous, without canthus, and broadly rounded terminally. 

 Eye rather small, pupil round. Iris quite black in life, so that 

 the shape of the pupil cannot be seen. Nostril rather large, 

 round, occupying the full depth of the sutures between the 

 nasals. Neck very little evident. Body rather long ; cylind- 

 rical, or compressed ; with shining scales ; of even calibre 



61 6(6)20 



