SNAKES OF CEYLON. 327 



females. There is no sexual difference in the lengths of the 

 developing young, and both sexes attain to a similar length 

 in adult Ufe. Males during advanced foetal HEe have the 

 genitalia extruded, and until they attain a length up to about 

 317 mm. (12J inches). Shortly before birth, however, the 

 genitaha become ensheathed. The claspers are not bifid, 

 except at the extreme tip. In adult life males have the 

 tubercles on the scales more pronounced than in females. 

 1 can discover no other differences in lepidosis in the 

 sexes. 



(&) Method of Reproduction : It is definitely known to be 

 viviparous. 



(c) Season : The young are born in the months of July and 

 August, but it is probable that further observation wiU extend 

 the season already known. I had several females in a very 

 advanced stage of pregnancy late in June and early in July, 

 but although I obtained 29 adults in those months in 1917, 

 no snakehng of the year came to bag. 



(d) Period of Gestation : Not known. 



(e) The Brood : This species is one of the least prolific of all 

 the snakes I know, and among seasnakes shares with Enhydris 

 curtus this distinction. I have had eight gravid females, of 

 which one contained a single embryo, five two embryos, one 

 three, and one six. These were contained in the usual trans- 

 parent sacs seen in viviparous snakes. Some of the sacs 

 measured 100 mm. (4 inches) in length. The young are 

 folded two or three times. 



Growth. — (a) The Young : At birth the young measure 

 from about 330 to 380 mm. (13 to 15 inches). I have seen 

 specimens after birth of the former dimensions, and I have 

 had unborn foetuses that were 375 mm. (13| inches). In one 

 case the united lengths of three foetuses considerably exceeded 

 the -parent, the former aggregating 978 mm. (3 feet 

 2i inches), and the latter 933 mm. (3 feet and | of an 

 inch). 



