494 



SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



less than half their length, about half the breadth of the 

 ultimate row. Oblique lateral rows, breadth less than half 

 their length. Ultimate row, breadth nearly equalling their 

 length. In 21 to 25 rows two heads-lengths behind the head ; 

 19 to 25 rows at midbody (23 to 25 in Ceylon specimens) ; and 

 15 to 13 two heads-lengths before the vent. The reduction at 

 all the steps is due to the absorption of the 4th, 5th, or 6th 

 row from the ventrals. Ventrals : 163 to 213 (170 to 200 in 

 Ceylon specimens). Anal : Entire. Subcaudals : 52 to 75 

 (52 to 66 for Ceylon specimens). (Pig. 88.) 



COS 



Ven 



Fio. 88. — jSTaia tripudians. 



(6) Anomalies — Postoculars : Rarely two. Swpralahial : 

 The third is rarely divided into an upper and a lower part. 

 Cuneate : Rarely absent. 



Dentition. — Maxilla: Prsenodal : in Chambei's Encyclo- 

 paedia the article on the cobra says that its fangs are not 

 canaliculate, but grooved. Mr. Boulenger too, in liis Catalogue, 

 refers to the fangs as being grooved, and they are shown with 

 a deficiency in the anterior wall in the figures in Fayrer's and 

 other works. This is most certainly not correct. The fact 

 that there is an indistinct line on the anterior face of the fang 



