SNAKES OF CEYLON. 219 



Growth.^ — ^The longest I have seen is the gravid female just 

 alluded to. 



Lepidosis. — Only differs from bifrenalis in the following: — 

 Loreal : One. Temporals : One or two anterior. Supra- 

 labials : Eight or nine ; the 4th and 5th, or 5th and 6th, 

 touching the eye. Costals : In 13 rows to behind midbody, 

 reducing to 9 two heads-lengths before the vent. Ventrals : 

 149 to 161. Subcaudals : 119 to 128. 



Dentition. — IVom one skull in my collection. Maxillary: 

 28 to 29. Patojwe.- 18 to 21. Pterygoid : 32 to 34. Man- 

 dibular : 27 to 30. 



Distribution.- — (a) General : PecuHar to Ceylon. 



(6) Local : Haly says it appears to inhabit damp forests 

 on low hills. It is evidently a rare snake. 



There are three specimens in the British Museum, the 

 exact habitat not specified. Haly records it from Balangoda, 

 Udugama, and lUagolIa. I have had three sent to me at 

 different times from Ceylon. Mr. Drummond-Hay took 

 several specimens about Balangoda, between about 2,000 

 and 3,500 feet, but found it uncommon. 



Deitdbophis effeenis Werner. 



(Latin "e" without, and "frenum"the loreal shield.) 

 Werner's Bronze-back. 



History .^ — ^Described by Werner in 1909. (Uber neue oder 

 seltene Reptilien de Nat. Mus. Hamburg, 1909, page 221.) 

 May prove to be an aberrant specimen of the last species. 



General Characters.^ — As detailed under the genus. The 

 tail is about two-seVenths the total length. 



Identification. — The costals in 13 rows reducing poste- 

 riorly to 9, ventrals keeled, and no loreal, if taken together 

 furnish a guide to the identityr of the species. 



Colouration. — As in the last species. 



Habits.' — ^Nothing known. 



Food. — Nothing known. 



Breeding. — Nothing known. 



