80 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



Habits. — {a) Haunts: This is a marine snake that clings 

 to the coasts, and travels some distance up tidal rivers. 

 Gunther says: "It is sometimes seen three or four miles from 

 the shore." 



{h) Disposition : Mr. Prater tells me it is a very inoffensive 

 snake. The fishermen about Bombay handle it with 

 impunity. It merely twists about to disengage itself when 

 grasped, and does not attempt to bite them. 



(c) Progression: Its movements in water are active and 

 nimble. On land any progress is very laboured and slow. 



Food. — I have only found the remains of fish in its stomach. 



Breeding. — (a) Method of Reproduction: It is viviparous 

 in habit. Cantor had a gravid female containing embryos, 

 Dr. Henderson obtained one with embryos, and I have had 

 another. 



(h) Season : A specimen killed at Bombay in May con- 

 tained sacs with embryos about 3 to 4 inches long. 

 Dr. Henderson's specimen killed on August 19th contained 

 embryos apparently fit for discharge. 



(c) Period of Gestation : Not known. 



(d) The Brood : My Bombay specimen contained four sacs. 

 Cantor's gravid female contained six, and Dr. Henderson's 

 specimen twelve. 



Growth. — (a) Length of Young : Four of the young 

 extracted by me from Dr. Henderson's specimen measured 

 respectively 325, 330, 337, and 344 mm. (12|, 13, 13^, and 

 13| inches). As none of the young males had their genitals 

 protruding, it is fairly certain their birthday would have 

 been very soon. 



(6) Maturity . My gravid example measured 743 mm. 

 (2 feet 5J inches). If this species grows at the same rate as 

 other snakes, i.e.. doubles its length in the first year of life, 

 this specimen would have been very little over one year 

 old. 



(c) Maximum Length: It grows to 1620 mm. (4 feet). 

 Dr. Henderson's gravid female was exactly this length. 



Lepldosis. — (a) Typical : The costals are very numerous. 

 In one specimen of mine they numbered 98 two heads-lengths 

 behind the head. 154 at midbody, and 71 two heads-lengths 



