SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



321 



there is Jittle doubt that the sea eagles take considerable toll 

 of their ranks. It is more than likely too that the brahminy 

 Kite Haliastur Indus is among those that prey on them. 

 When hydrophids travel up tidal rivers-, as they do in con- 

 siderable numbers, it is probable that many fall a prey to 

 other predatory birds and animals. A writer to " The 

 Field " from South Africa about October, 1919, mentioned 

 crocodiles as preying upon freshwater snakes within his 

 knowledge, and it is possible that seasnakes are victimized 

 by these creatures. I have never heard of any instance of 

 ophiophagy among seasnakes, but the fact that it is long and 

 slender fish that form their dietary makes it possible that 

 small seasnakes may be preyed upon by the larger members 

 of their fraternity. 



Epiphytes and Epizoa : Hydrophids are infested by many 

 lowly-organized plants and animals that attach themselves 

 to their scales and hamper their movements. Sometimes 

 the growth of the former is such as to make the whole snake 

 quite shaggy in appearance. These are not parasitic, as 

 they do not live on theii' host's tissues or blood. Many, 

 indeed, are as frequently found attached to floating timber, 

 piers, cables, &c. For a list of these I am indebted to Dr. 

 Annandale, who has specially interested himself in this study. 



(a) Hydroids on species of Hydrophis. 



Bimeria fluminalis (Annandale) . 

 Campanularia serrulata (Bale). 



(&) Polyzoa on Enhydrina valakadyen. 



Alcyonidium mytili (Dalzell) on species of Enhydris. 

 Triticella pedicellata (Alder). 

 Membranipora Mppopus (Levinson). 



(c) Barnacles on Hydrus platurus. 



Lepas anserifera (Linne). 

 * Lepas Jenuivalvata (Annandale). 



Conchoderma virgatum var hunteri (Owen). 

 Dichelaspis warwicki (Gray). 



* Has only been found attached to seasnakes. 

 46 6(6)20 



