[Footnote 1:  Proc.  Zool.  Soc. 1858.]

[Footnote 2:  Catal.  Mal.  Rept. p. 136.]

[Illustration:  SEA SNAKE Hydrophis subloevis]

Those found near the coasts of Ceylon are generally small,—­from one to three feet in length, and apparently immature; and it is certain that the largest specimens taken in the Pacific do not attain to greater length than eight feet.  In colour they are generally of a greenish brown, in parts inclining to yellow, with occasionally cross bands of black.  The species figured in the accompanying drawing is the Hydrophis subloevis of Gray; or Hydrus cyanocinctus of Boie.[1] The specimen from which the drawing is taken, was obtained by Dr. Templeton at Colombo.

[Footnote 1:  Its technical characteristics are as follows,—­Body rather slender; ground colour yellowish with irregular black rings.  Scales nearly smooth; ventral plates broad, six-sided, smooth, some divided into two, by a slight central groove.  Occipital shields large, triangular, and produced, with a small central shield behind them; a series of four large temporal shields; chin shields in two pairs; eyes very small, over the fourth and fifth labials; one ante-and two post-oculars; the second upper labial shield elongated.]

The use of the Pamboo-Kaloo, or snake-stone, as a remedy in cases of wounds by venomous serpents, has probably been communicated to the Singhalese by the itinerant snake-charmers who resort to the island from the coast of Coromandel; and more than one well-authenticated instance of its successful application has been told to me by persons who had been eye-witnesses to what they described.  On one occasion, in March, 1854, a friend of mine was riding, with some other civil officers of the Government, along a jungle path in the vicinity of Bintenne, when he saw one of two Tamils, who were approaching the party, suddenly dart into the forest and return, holding in both hands a cobra de capello which he had seized by the head and tail.  He called to his companion for assistance to place it in their covered basket, but, in doing this, he handled it so inexpertly that it seized him by the finger, and retained its hold for a few seconds, as if unable to retract its fangs.  The blood flowed, and intense pain appeared to follow almost immediately; but, with all expedition, the friend of the sufferer undid his waistcloth, and took from it two snake-stones, each of the size of a small almond, intensely black and highly polished, though of an extremely light substance.  These he applied, one to each wound inflicted by the teeth of the serpent, to which they attached themselves closely; the blood that oozed from the bites being rapidly imbibed by the porous texture of the article applied.  The stones adhered tenaciously for three or four minutes, the wounded man’s companion in the meanwhile rubbing his arm downwards from the shoulder towards the fingers.  At length the snake-stones dropped off of their own