550 SNAKES OF CEYLON. 



There is always a series of large, ovate, lateral, purplish-brcwn 

 spots, which may alternate with those of the other side or 

 correspond to them. In the latter side there may be some 

 confluence of the spots. The head is powdered Uke the back. 

 A dark postocular stripe runs to the gape, and has a light stripe 

 above it. The upper lip is deep purplish-brown. The under 

 parts are grayish, heavily peppered and spotted with purphsh- 

 brown of Varying degrees of intensity. The tip of the tail is 

 uniform ruddy or yellowish colour. Some specimens are very 

 light in colour, others very dark. 



Habits. — (a) Haunts : Appears to favour a heavy jungle 

 environment, where its colouration would prove decidedly 

 protective. Mr. Green tells me that it not infrequently climbs 

 into the coffee shrubs, and that planters in some parts call it 

 the "coffee polonga." 



(b) Disposition : Mr. Green tells me that those he had in 

 captivity Were Very sluggish. In its natural haunts it is 

 quickly roused to anger, and strikes Without hesitation, so 

 that casualties are not uncommon. Dr. Davy describes it as 

 active and fierce. 



(c) Striking Posture : When confronted it lies prone in a 

 convoluted mass, with the head raised and retracted, flattens 

 itself to the ground, and often vibrates its tail. Dr. Davy 

 says when provoked it hisses, and darts its head forward with 

 great rapidity at the irritating object, and wounds almost to 

 a certaintj'. 



{d) Nocturnal or Diurnal : It is frequently encountered in 

 the day, but whether on the move or not I am not able to say. 

 Possibly the gloom of heavy jungle furnishes a light congenial 

 to it by daylight. 



(e) Progression: Abercromby says that when disturbed it 

 proceeds by a series of short jumps. 



Food. — I found a mouse had been eaten on one occasion, 

 and masses of hair, presumably the remains of mice, were 

 found in the cloacae of two others. I found lizards had been 

 ingested on two occasions, and a frog once. 



Breeding. — (a) The Sexes : The sexes grow to a similar 

 length. The tail is rather longer relatively in the male, and 

 the terminal scute is longer in the male, and slightly turned up. 



