SNAKES OF CEYLON. 499 



folds of its body ; its tail, however, it raises off the ground and 

 holds aloft curved over backwards in the most extraordinary 

 manner, so that any casual observer would imagine the tail 

 was the head, and think the snake to be threatening to 

 strike." 



D'Abreu says it appears to be a very timid snake. A captive 

 specimen could not be induced to bite anything. When 

 seized with the forceps it lashed out violently and finally 

 wriggled itself into a knotty bunch. One in captivity always 

 concealed itself in the loose earth in its cage. 



Mr. Drummond-Hay tells me the specimen he encountered 

 did not try to escape, but appeared most sluggish. Not 

 knowing what it was, its manner so disarmed suspicion that 

 he picked it up, and carried it about two miles in his hand, 

 during this time it was quite quiet, and made no attempt to 

 bite him. 



Food.— Nothing known. As most of its near allies subsist 

 on other snakes, this species is likely to exhibit similar tastes. 



Growth. — My largest specimen was 395 mm. (15J inches). 



Poison.- — Nothing is known as to its effects on any mammals, 

 and the snake is too scarce for the poison to have been 

 investigated as yet in the laboratory. 



Lepidosis. — (a) Typical — Rostral : The rostro -nasal sutures 

 longer than the rostro -in ternasals, more than twice the rostro - 

 labials. Internasals : The suture between them about three - 

 fifths that between the prefrontals, and half or less than half 

 the internaso -prefrontals. Prefrontals : The suture between 

 them longer than the prsefronto-frontals ; touching the 

 internasal, postnasal, praeocular, and supraocular. Frontal : 

 The fronto-supraocular sutures rather shorter than the frontal 

 parietals. Supraoculars : About two -thirds the length of 

 the frontal, and about two-thirds the breadth of the frontal 

 along a line connecting the centres of the eyes. Nasals : 

 Subequal in depth, or the anterior rather deeper. Praeocular : 

 Barely reaching the top of the head. Postoculars : Two; 

 subequal. Temporal : As long as or rather longer than the 

 supraocular. Supralabials : Six ; the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd 

 touching the nasals ; 3rd and 4th the eye ; and the 5th and 6th 

 the temporal : 6th longest. Sublinguals ; The posterior as 



<39 6(6)20 



