454 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



been carved out, which yields on pressure from the baby- 

 snake's snout. The foetal tooth, as it is called, drops out in 

 those snakes where I have had an opportunity of examining it 

 within a few hours of the attainment of liberty. 



( b) Early Life : So few dates have accompanied the 

 specimens I have seen that the rate of growth cannot be 

 guessed at. 



(c) Maturity : The age *at which this snake is sexually 

 mature is not known. 



(d) Maximum Length : Boulenger gives this as 1,000 mm. 

 (3 feet 3| inches), the tail 90 mm. (3J inches). The largest I 

 have seen was 890 mm. (2 feet U inches). 



Poison. — (a) Toxicity : Very little precise knowledge is 

 available. It has not been experimented with in the 

 laboratory. Fatalities have been reported as a sequel to its 

 bite, but this in itself does not prove that its bite is fatal. 

 Deaths occur from the bites of harmless snakes. A good 

 illustration of this is furnished under the remarks on Oligodon 

 arnensis. It is much to be regretted that no well -reported 

 case of a bite and its results is available from medical records. 

 The few casualties reported have not been seen by medical men, 

 and the accounts, therefore, lack that discrimination which 

 only the medical profession can supply. 



All one can say is that from analogy a fatal issue is likely to 

 result from its bite, and it should be treated in life with the 

 greatest care. 



( b) Symptoms : These would be in all probability as 

 detailed under B. cmruleus. 



(c) Illustrative Cases : Dr. Willey records the case of a 

 Malay woman in Colombo who was bitten during the night by 

 this snake. It was killed and identified at the Colombo 

 Museum. No symptoms were recorded. The woman was 

 treated by ;i Vedarala, but succumbed within twelve hours. 

 Mr. Green has placed another case on record. A cooly was 

 bitten in the foot at Gampola one night at 4 a.m. He killed 

 the snake which was identified by Mr. Green. At 5.30 a.m. 

 he felt sleepy and unwell, and would not attend muster. 

 Drowsiness increased till 10 a.m. He was walked about until 

 his legs refused to move. He was able to swallow Very little 



