V & FIRST REPORT ON TIIE COLLECTION OF SNAKES IN THE COLOMBO MUSEUM, Compiled by Order of the Sub-Committee. Original from and digitized byPrice National12io. University[2 annas]. of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries FIRST REPORT ON THE COLLECTION OF SNAKES IN THE COLOMBO MUSEUM. The following List of Snakes recorded from Ceylon is compiled from Dr. Giinther's "Reptiles of British India," 1863. The synonomy is restricted to such books and papers as are contained in the Colombo Museum Library. On later classifications the student should consult Dr. Giinther's article in the "Encyclopedia Brittannica," art. Reptiles. A. HALY, October, 1886. Director. OPHIDII. Sub-Order I.—Ophidii colubriformes. Family.— Typh lopidce, I.—Typhlops. Cat. No. 1. braminus, Daud. ... ... 1 2 tenuis, Gthr. ... ... 2 3 mirus, Jan. ... ... 3 4 ? ... ... 4 Family.— Tortricidce. I.—Cylindrophxs. 1 maculatus, Linn. ... ... 5 Family.— ZJropeltidce. I.—Rhinopiiis. 1 oxyrhyncus, Schn. ' ... ■'... 6 2 punctatus, Mull. ... ... 7 3 planiceps, Peters. ... ... 8 4 trevelyanus, Kel. ... ... 9 5 blythii, Kel. ... ... 10 II.—Uropeltis. 1 grandis, Kel. ... ... 11 III.—Silybura. 1 melanogaster, Peters. ... ... 12 47—86 ' . u Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries ( 2 ) Family.—Calamaridee. I.—Aspidura. Cat. No. 1 brackyhorros, Boie ... ... 13 2 copii, Gthr. ... ... 14 3 trachyprocta, Cope ... ... 15 4 guntheri, Ferg. ... ... 16 II.—Haplocerccs. 1 ceylonensis, Gthr. ... ... 17 Family.—Oligodontida. I.—Oligodon. 1 subgriseus, D. et B. ... ... 18 2 sublineatus, D. et B. ... ... 19 3 templetonii, Gthr. ... ... 20 II.—Sihotes. 1 russelli, Daud. ... ... 21 2 albiventer, Gthr. ... ... 22 Family.— Colubridee. I.—Ablabes. 1 liumberti, Jan. ... ... 23 II.—Ctclophis. 1 calamaria, Gthr. ... ... 24 III.—Odontomus. 1 semifasciatus, Gthr. ... ... 25 2 nympha, Daud. ... ... 26 IV.—Cynophis. 1 kelena, Daud. ... ... 27 V.—Ptyas. 1 mucosus, Linn. ... ... 28 VI.—Zamknis. 1 fasciolatus, Shaw ... ... 29 VII.—Tropidonotus. 1 quincunciatus, Schleg. ... ... 30 2 stolatus, Linn. ... ... 31 3 ceylonensis, Gthr. ... ... 32 4 plumbicolor, Cantor. ... ... 33 VIII.—Atre tium. 1 sehistosum, Daud. ... ... 34 Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries o ( 3 ) Family.—Homalopsid.ce. I.—Gerarda. Oat. Xo. 1 bicolor, Gray ... ... 35 II.—Cerberus. 1 rbyncops, Schn. ... ... 36 Family.—Den drophides. I.—Dendrophis. 1 picta, Gmel. ... ... 37 2 caudolineata, Gthr. ... ... 38 II.—Chrysopelea. 1 ornata, Shaiv. ... ... 39 „ Family.—Dryophidcc. I.—Passerita. 9 1 mycterizans, Linn. ... ... 40 2 purpurascena, Gthr. ... ... 41 ^ Family.—Dipsadidce. I.—Dipsas. 1 ceylonensis, Gthr. ... ... 42 2 forstenii, D. et B. ... ... 43 3 barnesii, Gthr. ... ... 44 4 trigonata, Boie ... ... 45 5 gokool, Gray ... ... 46 Family.—Lycodontidce. I.—Lycodon, 1 aulicus, Linn. ... ... 47 II.—Cercaspis. I carinata, Kulil. ... ... 48 „ Family.—Pythonidcs. I.—Python. 1 molurus, Linn. ... ... 49 Family.—Acrochoridce. II.—Ceersydrus. 1 granulatus, Schn. ... ... 50 Sub-Order II.—Ophidii Colubriformes Yenenosi. Family.—Elapidcs. I.—Naja. 1 tripudians, Merr. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries 1 ( 4 ) II.—BuNGARUS. Cat. No. 1 coeruleus, Schn. ... ... 52 2 ceylonicus, Gthr. ... ... 53 III.—Callophis. 1 trimaeulatus, Daud. ... ••• 54 Family.—Hydrophidie. I.—Hydrophis. 1 jerdonii, Gray ... ... 55 2 stokesii, Gray ... ... 56 3 spiralis, Shaw - ... ... 57 4 cyanocincta, Daud. ... ••• 58 5 chloris, Daud. ... ... 59 - 6 gracilis, Shaw ... 60 7 lapemoides, Gray ... ••• 61 8 ellioti, Gthr. ... ••• 62 9 curta, Shaw ... ... 63 10 holdsworthii, Gthr. ... ... 64 II.—PelAmis. 1 bicolor, Schn. ... ... 65 Sub-Order III.—Viperiformes. Family.— Crotalidce. I.—Trimeresurus. 1 trigonocephalus, :Merr. ... ... 66 II.—Hypnale. 1 nepa ... ... ... 67 Family.— Viperidce. I.—Daboia. 1 russellii, Shaw ... ... 68 II.—Echis. 1 carinata, Schn. ... ... 69 1 Typhbops braminus, Daudin. Cuv. R. A. Gthr. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 175, pi. xvi., fig. I. From Nepaul through the Malayan Archipelago to China. Dr. Giinther says it is common in Ceylon ; but according to his description, its circumference in the middle is one-thirteenth of its total length ; there is no snake in the collection that at all agrees with this in its proportions. Original from and digitized0 by National University of Singapore Libraries ( 5 ) 2 Typiilops tenuis, Giinther. Gthr. Rept. Brit, Ind., p. 176, Madras ; Ceylon ? One specimen in the British Museum from Madras. Mr. W. Fer¬ guson (letter on the "Reptile Fauna of Ceylon," Colombo, 1877, p. 17) is uncertain about this species. I have placed under this number those specimeus which seem to me to agree with the description, but they are all more slender than Dr. Giinther's specimen, averaging in thickness only a thirtieth of the total length, against a twenty-fourth in the Madras specimen. Their snouts are yellow, as in T. Mirus. Two specimens presented by W. Ferguson, Esq. ; one from Colombo, presented by S. Lawrance, Esq. ; and one purchased. 3 Typhlops mirus, Jan. Gthr. Rept. Brit. Ind., p, 176. Ceylon. A.11 our specimens greatly exceed the proportions given by Dr. Giinther in circumference (viz., one-sixteenth of the total length), their average circumference being about one-thirtieth. It is therefore very doubtful whether they belong to this species. Two specimens presented by G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq., and one from Colombo, which, however, differs greatly in colour from Mr. Thwaites'. 4 Typhi.ops ? A specimen from Colombo, presented by Mr. Hudson in April, 1886, is of extraordinary slenderness, its circumference being contained in its total length over seventy limes. 5 Cylindrophis maculatus, Linnceus. Anguis maculatus, Linn. Tortrix maculata. Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii., p. 12. Cylindrophis maculatus, Gthr. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 179. Ceylon. Very common. The form of this snake is described as cylin¬ drical, which is the form of specimens preserved in spirits, and I imagine that when burrowing it assumes this form during life ; but its habitual shape is quite unlike that of any other snake, being nearly flat—the "back slightly convex, and the belly concave. Placed on a table it makes no attempt to escape, but lies with its head beneath its lowest coil, and its tail spread out so as to resemble the head of a cobra, which it imitates in its motions. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries ( 6 ) If irritated for some time it finally ejects from the anus a few drops of a yellow acrid liquid. The collection contains no speci¬ mens from a higher elevation than Kandy, and it is not certain that Mr. Thwaites' specimens are from Peradeniya. 6 Rhinophis oxyriiyncus, Schneider. Dapatnaya lankadivana, Kel. Prodr. II., p. 16. Rhinophis oxyrhyncus, G-thr. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 184. Bedd. Ann. Mag. N. H-, v. 17, p. 3, 1886. Ceylon. One specimen from Mullaittivu, presented by W. Ferguson, Esq. 7 Rhinophis punctatus, Miiller. Gtlir. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 184. Bedd. Ann. Mag. N. H., v. 17, p. 3, 1886. Ceylon. No specimens. A very rare species. " In the neighbourhood of Kandy, under stones."—Beddome. 8 Rhinophis planiceps, Peters. Typlops phillipinus, Cuv. R. A. Rhinophis phillipinus, Gthr. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 184. Rhinophis planiceps, Bedd. Ann. Mag. N. II., v. 17, p. 3, 1886. Ceylon. Three specimens presented by W. Ferguson, Esq., and one by E. F. Modder, Esq. "Not uncommon about Kandy in loose vegetable soil or decaying vegetable matter."—Ferguson, loc. cit., p. 17. 9 Rhinophis trevelyanus, Kelaart. Dapatnaya trevelyana, Kel. Prodr. F. Z., II., p. 17. Rhinophis trevelyanus, Gthr. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 185. Bedd. Ann. Mag. N. H., v. 17, p. 8, 1886. Ceylon. Three specimens from Rakwana, presented by A. C. Ryves, Esq., a,nd one specimen presented by W. Ferguson, Esq. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries ( * ) 10 Rhinophis Blythii, Kelaart. Kel. Prodr. II., p. 14. Gthr. Rept. Brit. Ind. (part), p. 186. Bedd. Ann. Mag., N. H., v. 17, p. 8, 1886. Ceylon. Seven specimens. Very common from Kandy to Ramboda. 11 Uropeltis grandis, Giinther. Uropeltis phillipinus, Cuv. R. A. Tenn. Ceylon, vol. I., p. 195, —— safifragamuH, grandis, pardalis, Kel. Prodr. II., p. 15. grandis, Gthr. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 188. Bedd. Ann. Mag. N. H., v. 17, p. 3, 1886. Ceylon. One specimen from Matara, presented by W. Ferguson, Esq., and another from Badulla, presented by J. F. Garvin, Esq. 12 Silybura melanogaster, Peters. Rhinophis blythii, Gthr. (part) Rept. Brit, ind., p. 186. Silybura melanogaster, Bedd. Ann. Mag. N. H., v. 17, p. 20, 1886. Ceylon. No specimens. " Very common in the Central Province."— Beddome. 13 Aspidora brachyhoisros, Boie. Calamaria scytale, Schleg Phys. Serp. II., p. 42. Aspidura brachyhorros, Gthr. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 202. Ceylon. Five specimens—one from Colombo ; the locality of the others not known. 14 Aspidura copii, Giinther. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 203, pi. xviii., fig. E. Ceylon. One specimen from Dikoya, presented by W. Ferguson, Esq. 15 Aspidura trachyprocta, Cope. Gthr. Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 203, pi. xviii., figs. F and F 1. Ceylon. Numerous specimens from Kandy and Ramboda. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries ( 3 ) 16 Aspidura gtrntheri, Ferguson. Ferg. Proc. Zool. Soc., 1876, p. 819. Ceylon. Seven specimens (Western Province), presented by W. Fergu¬ son, Esq. 17 Haplocercus ceylonensis, Giinther. Gthr. Colubr.