332 SNAKES or ceylon. 



(6) Method of Reproduction : Definitely known to be 

 viviparous. 



(c) Season. — The one gravid female known to me was killed 

 by Mr. Kemp on September 9, 1919. 



(d) Period of Gestation : Not known. 



(e) The Brood : Mr. Kemp's gravid female preserved in the 

 Indian Museum contained six ova containing embryos in a 

 very early stage of development. These measured about 

 50 mm. (2 inches) in length. 



Growth. — {a) The Young: The length of the young at 

 birth is not known. 



(&) Maturity : The gravid female sent to me tor identifi- 

 cation by Dr. Annandale measured 1,155 mm. (3 feet 9-| inches), 



(c) Maximum Length The largest males I have measured 

 were 1,410 and 1,322 mm. (4 feet 7 J inches and4feet 4inches). 

 The largest female known to me was 1,155 mm. (3 feet 9| 

 inches). A very large example in the Indian Museum, sex 

 not noted, measures 1,855 mm. (6 feet 1 inch). 



Poison. — Nothing known. It has not been experimented 



with in the laboratory. 



Lepidosis. — Unlike so many of the seasnakes the lepidosis 

 of the head preserves a "wonderful constancy. 



(a) Typical — Rostral : Deeper than broad ; produced 

 slightly do\vn wards ; the visible portion above nearly or quite 

 as long as the suture between the nasals. Nasals : Sutures 

 from the nostril passing backwards to the praefrontals and 

 outwards to the 2nd supralabial. Pripfrontals : Touch the 

 3rd supralabial. Frontal : Entire ; about two-thirds its 

 distance to the end of the snout, and two-thirds the parietals. 

 Parietals : Entire ; touching the postoculars. Prasocular : 

 One. Postocular : One. Temporals : A large anterior, 

 followed by an equally large or even larger shield posteriorly. 

 Supialabials : Six ; all entire ; the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd touching 

 the nasals ; 3rd and 4th the eye ; 5th and 6th the anterior 

 temporal, and the 6th the posterior temporal. Sublinguals : 

 Two well-developed jDairs ; the fellows of both in contact with 

 one another, [nfralabials : Four ; the 4th touching two 



