SNAKES OF CEYLON. 196 



Costals : Longer than broad, rectiform, smooth, with 

 double apical facets. Vertebrals not enlarged, the breadth 

 of its scales about two-thirds their length, and about half that 

 of the ultimate row. Last five rows progressively broader. 

 Ultimate row broadest, the scales being about as broad as 

 long. In 21 to 23 rowg two heads-lengths behind the head, 

 23 at midbody, 17 two heads-lengths before the Vent. The 

 rows usually increase about five heads-lengths from the head 

 by the division of the row next to the Vertebral. They 

 decrease behind midbody to 21 by the absorption of the row 

 next to the Vertebrals. Later they reduce to 19 by the 

 absorption of the third row from the Ventrals. They again 

 reduce to 17 by an absorption of the row next to the Vertebral. 

 Ventrals : 191 to 232 ; laterally subangulate. Anal : Divided. 

 Supracaudals : In even rows. Subcaudals : 73 to 92 ; divided. 



(6) Anomalies — 8upralabials : The 4th is rarely undivided. 

 Rarely the 4th, 5th, and 6th touch the eye. 



Dentition — ^From two skulls in my collection. Maxillary : 

 Diaoranterian. Prsecranterian 12 to 13 ; feebly cory- 

 phodont ; cranterian 2 ; not enlarged. Palatine : 10 to 11 ; 

 anododont, feebly scaphiodont ; subequal to the maxillary, 

 Pterygoid: 15 to 16 ; anododont, scaphiodont. Mandibular : 

 17 to 18 ; anododont, scaphiodont. 



Distribution. — (a) General : Peninsular India to the 

 Himalayas and Northern Ceylon. 



( 6) Local : In India it has not been recorded north of 

 Gwalior on the western side, and Vizagapatam on the eastern 

 side. In Ceylon Haly mentions one from Jaffna.* Mr. Drum- 

 mond-Hay tells me he has never obtained a specimen. 



Genus COLUBER. 

 (Latin " coluber " applied to any snake.) 



General Characters — For Indian species. The species vary 

 from about 2 to 7 feet in length. Head elongate. Snout 

 moderate or rather long, with a more or less distinct but 



* In my book on the poisonous terrestrial snakes of British India 

 (footnote to page 21) I showed good reason to doubt the authenticity 

 of Cantor's specimen from Province WeUesley. 



