SNAKES OF CEYLON. 286 



reducing to 15 two heads-lengths before the vent. The 

 reduction steps occur close together, and in one step the 

 uppermost row is absorbed into the vertebral, and in the other 

 the third and fourth rows from the ventrals coalesce. If a 

 third step occurs, it is the uppermost row again that is absorbed 

 into the vertebral. Ventrals: 214 to 220. Anal: Entire. 

 Subcaudals : 98 to 100. 



(6) Anomalies — Swpralabials : The third only just fails 

 to meet the eye in the three specimens I have examined, and 

 it seems likely, therefore, that some examples will occur with 

 three touching the eye, as one sees in most other species. 



Dentition. — I have no skull. 



Distribution.— (a) General : Peculiar to the hiUs of Ceylon. 

 The type was taken by Mr. Barnes on Gangaruwa estate. 



(6) Local : — Evidently a rare snake. Only the type existed 

 in the British Museum when Boulenger's Catalogue appeared. 

 I have examined this, and seen two other specimens which I 

 refer to this species. 



DiPSADOMOBPHUS FORSTENi (Dumerll and Bibron). 

 (Named in honour of Mr. Forsten.) 



Forsten's Catsnake. 



Sinhalese : "' mapila " (Ferguson) ; " le polonga " (blood 

 snake) (WUley). 



Synonymy. — Triglyphodon forsteni, T. tesseUatum, Dipsas 

 forsteni, D. tessdlatus, D. cynodon. 



History. — Described by Dumeril and Bibron in 1854. 



Identification. — ^The scale rows 25 to 27 at midbody with 

 enlarged vertebrals will denote this species. 



General Characters. — A remarkably fine snake of handsome 

 proportions, growing to over 7 feet. Its characters conform 

 in every way to those mentioned under the genus. 



