548 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



broader than the frontal along a line connecting the centres 

 of the eyes. Parietals : As long or longer than the frontal. 

 Nasal: Entire. Supraloreal: Present. Loreal: One or more 

 forming the floor of the loreal pit. Prseoculars : Three, the 

 median and lower divergent to border the loreal pit. Post- 

 oculars : One or two. Sub oculars : One or two. Temporals: 

 A large lower anterior, in contact with one or more other 

 subequal shields behind it, bordering the supralabials. 

 Supralabials : Usually seven, the 1st only touches the 

 nasal, one or more frequently, none touch the eye, 4th and 

 5th usually touching the anterior temporal. Sublinguals : 

 One pair, touching two or three infralabials. Infralabials : 

 Three or four, the last touching three or four scales 

 behind. 



Oostals : Longer than broad, rectif orm, with broadly rounded 

 apices, keels feeble or strong in most of the median rows ; 

 apical pits present, obscure, in pairs. Vertebrals not or 

 slightly enlarged, the breadth of the scales subequal to their 

 length, subequal to those of the ultimate row. Ultimate row 

 enlarged, the breadth of its scales subequal to their length. 

 In 17 to 27 rows. The number usually remains the same 

 until shortly before the Vent, where it reduces by two. 

 Supracaudals : In even rows. Ventrals : Rounded ; less 

 than 175. Anal : Entire. Subcaudals : Divided ; less 

 than 65. 



Dentition (Indian Species). — The maxilla carries two canali- 

 culate fangs placed side by side. The palatine is short, and 

 the posterior third edentulous, teeth isodont; 3 or 4 in number. 

 The pterygoid is edentulous in about its posterior half ; teeth 

 scaphiodont ; 8 to 18. The mandibular teeth are scaphiodont, 

 and number 11 to 19. 



Distribution. — At least eleven species are known which 

 inhabit Southern Asia from the borders of the Caspian sea to 

 China and Japan ; the Malayan Archipelago as far East as 

 Batavia ; North and Central America. Three species occur 

 within Indian limits, and two of these occur in Ceylon, viz., 

 A. hypnale and A. 



