SNAKES OF CEYLON. 5 



Dentition. — Maxillary : Transverse ; number of teeth 4 or 5 ; 

 markedly scaphiodont. Palatine : edentulous. Pterygoid : 

 edentulous. Mandibular : edentulous. 



Distribution. — South Europe ; South Asia ; Africa ; Australia ; 

 Tropical America. 



The family includes three genera. Only one of these is 

 represented in India, including Ceylon, viz., Typhlops. 



Genus TYPHLOPS. 



(Greek " tuphlos " bhnd, " ops " eye.) 



General Characters. — Diminutive snakes, with few excep- 

 tions exceeding 8 or 9 inches in length. Head rounded, in a 

 few species beaked ; about as broad as the body. Eyes 

 distinct or indistinct, lying beneath shields, which thus 

 protect them from injury when the snake is burrowing. 

 Nostrils lateral or inferior, slit-like. Body cylindrical ; short 

 or elongate ; of even cahbre throughout ; covered with 

 highly poHshed scales, the purpose of which appears to be 

 to prevent becoming clogged with the earth into which 

 they burrow. Tail very short, with or without a terminal 

 spine. 



Habits.— The species live for the most part beneath the 

 surface soil. The snout is used in burrowing, and during this 

 operation the little spine at the end of the tail is pushed into 

 the ground, and serves as a sort of fulcrum. The snout being 

 in most species broadly rounded does not appear to be well 

 adapted for burrowing, and Unless the soil is loose this cannot 

 be accomplished. The species whose snouts end in a beak 

 do not appear to me to be any better equipped for burrowing, 

 judging from results. 



Some of the species have been observed to exhibit a gre- 

 garious habit, and have been found in colonies in decaying 

 wood. A rotting log ofEers great attraction on account of the 

 beetle and other insect larvae and pupae developing therein. 

 It may, too, prove additionally attractive from the warmth 

 generated by the process of decay. Such an environment may 



