1. pets
2. reptiles

hi
(^r pA
The
Poisonous
Snakes
of
Terrestrial
British
our
Indian Dominions
and
How
to
Them.
Recognise
"
BY
F.
Major
WALL,
C.M.Z.S.
LM.S.,
f
Second
Third
Edition^
Thousand.
BOMBAY
Published
bv
the
Bombay
:
Natural
1908.
Price
Rupees
Two.
History
Society.
PRESS,
TIMES
THE
BOMBAY.
POISONOUS
SNAKES.
Peess
"
Comments
on
book
This
meets
Edition.
First
the
long-felt want,
a
affording
in
ready
a
....
identifying
of
means
"Invaluable
So
"
far
the
as
with
The
"
book
is
in
the
included
of
amount
arranged
the
in
of
library
patient research
and
work,
Of
Review,
"
The
"
value
great
with
the
snakes."
Times
is well
book
the
to
May
190b.
ought
and
manner,
It
species
reveals
to
be
large
a
interesting throughout."
9th
Pioneer,
profession
well
as
1908.
February
the
to
as
alist."
natur-
India.
adapted
enable
to
trouble
of
minimum
is
The
medical
of
Notes,
practice
the
discover
Anglo-Indian.
every
"
*'
lucid
little
very
to
and
Queries
most
a
one
any
Country
"
concerned
are
enable
will
certainty."
and
ease
kinds
key
India."
in
men
venomous
Wall's
Major
with
....
medical
to
snake."
dead
a
medical
any
of
the
others
to
tify
iden-
Indian
poisonous
land
the
Thanatophidia
and
men
Mail.
Madras
"
India."
'"'
of
the
contribution
valuable
"A
"
The
of
scaling by which,
of
name
proposed
Major
in
Wall's
the
literature
of
of
of India.
Advocate
object
to
Major
in
his
any
poisonous
this
book
little work
will
a
little book
Wall's
opinion,
any
is to
of
wide
To
real
A.
able
many,
characters
out
to
B.
arrive
the
in
India.''
Country
Life, April
at
system
We
utility
circulation
G.
"
be
should
one
snake
be
point
1908.
wish
PREFACE
The
edition
first
having
bring
it up
since
its
Annandale
in 1904
short
there
the
omitted
first edition
of
Boulenger's arrangement
tacitly dissented
for years
Specimens
which
enable
to
me
put
this
views, and
Under
the
I
think
been
a
second
to
and
valuable
interests
My
the
of
the
form
krait, the
for which
Bungarus
least
lour
I
that
I propose
have
long
distinct
own
my
edition.
Ceylon form,
and
Gh^ts
Bombay
species
new
of
carried
snakes
two
name
believed
species,to
past
have
years
Bungarus
candidus, Professor
opinions.
I have
the
tremely
ex-
in the
on
History kSociety.
of
the
I have
recent
recognition
Assam
area
fessor
Pro-
species
two
the
this
for
the
present
a
from
Natural
smaller
the
in
has
his
hesitation,
type
To
of
in
hypnale
name
he
Bombay
in
Further,
Carwar.
collections
recent
in
only
me
work
occurrence
black
the
S. Millard's
W.
do
to
confused,
of
by
toto
m
species though
me
Dr.
by
first edition
adopted
without
forward,
I venture
known
Mr.
reached
important
limits
some
title Ancisirodon
(Castle Pock),
given
have
from
elapsed
Pseudocerastes
the
I
has
many
viper
from
and
revise
time
a
Indian
our
little work
to
are
the
notably
and
In
oversight.
an
asked
so
within
recorded
persicus
been
Though
made,
of this
copies)
publication,
be
to
have
date.
to
first
additions
I
out,
run
(of 2,500
have
distinct
lividus
species
and
of
larger
a
Bungarus m'ger.
that
Boulenger
three
revealed
of
under
the
has
included
which
he
title
accords
at
Vlll
the
of
rank
minor
distinct
equally
form,
in
and
colour
show
and
inhabit
species.
B.
candidus
Thus,
snakes
to
thirty
with
in
for
Three
is
five
now
-nine
these
a
Malayan
additions,
known
species.
within
so
the
our
mediate
inter-
by
that
I
Avithin
areas
as
our
is
there
feel
recognised
occur
form
tive
distinc-
very
geographical
being
these
fourtli
received
has
connected
definite
candidus,
A
are
not
lepidosis,
each
of
forms
are
very
differences
justification
every
but
all
e.,
ccBndeus.
magnimaculatus
markings,
forms,
i.
typica
variety
viz.^
Now
recognition.
forma
m.,
and
multicinctus,
variety
no
variety,
a
tinct
dis-
limits,
only.
total
Indian
number
of
limits
ous
poisonamounts
CONTENTS.
Page
1
Remarks
Introlcctoey
...
Key
Group
Poisonous
distinguish
to
Sea
1.
7
Snakes
the
8
Snakes
"
Group
Group
The
2."
Coral
and
Cobras
3.
9
Kraifcs
25
Snakes
"
Group
The
4.
Pit
Group
..o
Pifcless
5.
41
Vipers
"
57
Vipers...
"
G9
Index
...
APPEAL.
AN
author
The
be
will
pleased
and
identify,
to
snakes
return
any
very
sent
him,
to
and
be
would
grateful
most
information
for
however
any
his
readers
be
able
him
give
to
snake
of
fatalities,
bite
may
meagre
the
where
especially
this
be
it
offender
is
been
has
of
He
value.
No
killed.
that
certain
feels
how
matter
much
lated
muti-
valuable
may
of
poison
which
entirely
we
lost
being
is
ignorant,
the
snakes,
concerning
information
to
each
science
are
should
Specimens
be
year.
addressed
to
Society
6,
f
Apollo
the
Secretary,
Honorary
Street,
Bombay.
Bombay
JSatural
History
THE
POISONOUS
SNAKES
OF
TERRESTRIAL
OUR
DOMINIONS
AND
HOW
RECOdNISE
( Reprinted from
History Journal
hy specialrequest of
Major
F.
the last
snake
lias
venoms
in the
and
Whilst
and
I.M.S..
Wall,
propertiesof
various
in that
deals with
distinction
In
are
observers
researches
minute
which
been
of the
the treatment
have
fruits
"
attendant
from
one
viz.,antivenene
is
of
"
incompetent
to
knowledge
province
and
of
of
of
toxicology
hand
in
recognise
branch
all
a
of
to
one's
our
the
have
very
the
subject
the
distinct,
knowledge
finger's ends,
hospitals,if the
poisonous
been
varieties.
fields,though
use
toxic
especiallywith
and
non-poisonous
is of little
the
has
advance
any,
sister
two
intricate,laborious,
investigation of
snakes,
these
It
in the
little,if
the
from
the
investigators at
to
incur
the
in
with
identification
of snake-bite
set
C.M.Z.S.
engaged
very
mutually interdependent.
derived
been
connected
poisonous
others.)
therapeutics.
of
equally important
the
and
advancement
acquired, both
venoms,
Inspector- General
Eemarks.
vast
a
all-important one
many
achieved
decade
ths
Natural
Bombay
Provinces,
Introductory
During
in the
appeared
of Civil Hospitals, Central
By
TO
THEM.
ivhich
papers
INDIAN
BRITISH
snake.
It is
its
and
medical
only
this
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
2
with '"he other
knowledge in conjunctiou
that
make
can
it.
It is to meet
the
state
unsatisfactory
of
approachingthat
standard
snake
bringthis part
hope that they may
which
to
Fully appreciatingthe
venoms.
which
subjects
ever-increasing
and
I have
endeavoured
the
of
ed,
contemplat-
subjectup
in the
arrived
to
I
hope
bring the
to
studyof
of medicine embraces
profession
the
to the
as
practical
possible
subjectas
be
drawings,by which
of identificationwithin the easy
matter
hospitalassistants and
of
a
voluminous
already over
the aid of outline
with
dene, explainingthem
grasp
the
make
to
have been
subject
by avoidingtechnicalities,
or, where this cannot
practitioner
oriental
means
have
we
the
knowledgeon
our
of the identification of snakes that these papers
in the
rational treatment
antivenene,and when
to withhold
possible,
by teachinghim when
to administer
INDIA.
OF
assistant
well
as
surgeons,
medical
as
officers.
Volume
In
I wrote
a
XIV
of the
the
on
paper
Bombay
easy
at the
rules for their
appended
however,
in
a
key
Province,and
it.
hundreds
the
spite of
its
snakes
of
in
publication,
collected
various
result I find that I
1901,
to
qualified
simplifyand
can
favorably
stock
I have
others
curtailthe
well
as
British
to
me
examined
many
large
as
and
Museum,
originalkey
to this first brief paper
remarks, so
known
that in the
presentpaper
poisonousland
snake
The easy identificationof these is my
which I
to assist by means
to
caused
deal with this subject. As
Possessions.
hope
in his
so
a
to
as
its practical
utility.
deal in detail with every
and
practical
circulate this paper
by myselfand
good receptionaccorded
to extend my
more,
its
copiestillmy
for spare
institutions,
includingthe
better
enhance
considerably
me
satisfied me
far from
complimentconveyed in this requesthas
therefore,now
The
attempted to
its shortcomings,
it has been
askingif he might
wrote
Since
collections in
I am,
I
of Civil Hospitals
in the
Recentlythe Inspector-General
Central Provinces
revise
which
in
poisonousand
complexity detractingfrom
askeJ
received,and I have been repeatedly
is exhausted.
between
separation.This key
time, its length and
value ;
HistorySociety'sJournal
characters
distinguishing
non-poisonoussnakes, and
frame
Natural
incorporatewith
of outline
each
I
prompted
our
Indian
and
firstobject,
few
to
propose
within
drawings,but
a
species
has
I
one
hope to
remarks
so
as
do
to
the
make
paper
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
useful
medical
the
to
INDIA.
OF
3
as
profession
well
the
to
as
naturalist.
The
marked
abbreviations
to these papers
the
are
throughout,and
same
Roman
With
reference
the snout
the
2
the
and
anus
lengthsin
demands
Mr.
Order
Boulenger
a
only be
nine
into
made
with
head ;
character for the
venture
attention
method
to
the
families based
:
"
reference
between
midway
slit in the hinder
part
to scales indicates
a
of
point
impliesa point
posteriorsimilarly
alluded
as
hereafter,
to
reptiles.
Ophidia (snakes)a Suborder
chameleons).He
lizards and
on
divides
which
osteological
peculiarities
the minutest
and
soft tissues,
of the
and
hence
most
are
careful
of far too
can
dissection
or
complicateda
or
investigate
generalenquirerto readily
comprehend.
think
to external
is
indicated is
the classification of these
apparent by
follows
as
Infralabials.
"
poisonous snake,
on
attached
figures
vent.
considers
of the
disintegration
read
transverse
(a
Squamata (which includes
snakes
a
the
front of the
remarks
some
vent
Anterior
conception of
The
I
or
lengths behind
2 head
numerals
midhody the pomt
to
belly,see fig9).
head
the shields in the outline
on
the
end
same
may
characters alone.
obvious,since
it enables
glancethe requisite
pointsby
an
be
The
equallywell
attained
recommendation
for
the' enquirerto ascertain
examination
of the creature
as
by
such
at
a
it lies
which is the
disturbingMr. Boulenger'sclassification,
Without
liim.
before
dead
acceptedone,
I divide them
flattened
not
(i.e.,
like
follows:
as
"
COMPHESSED
MARKEDLY
NOT
TAILS
INDIA
OF
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
4
eel's"
an
fig.1
see
B
and
C).
FAMILY.
bach
and
with
clothed
are
beneath
belly
tohich the
in
snakes
worm-like, and
ABSENT.
Snakes
blind
Small
A"VENTRALS
1
Typhlopidse.
the
living
ground,
HARMLESS.
2 Glauconiidae.
identical scales {seefig.2).
B"VENTRALS
NARROW.
with
SnaJces
covered
with
(ventraW)
the
belly,so
specimen is
roio,
even
or
visible
are
plates
do
however
contpletehjacross
extend
whole
belly
transverse
which
not
the
the
laid
of
bach
last costal
costal roios,
many
on
its
on
the
the
when
that
3 Boidaj.
side
each
4
Ilysiidse,
5
XJropeltidse.
g
Xenopeltid^.
7 Colubridse.
(see
Homalop(Sub-family
sin").
and 4).
figs.3
5-HARMLESS.
C"VENTRALS
BROAD.
(except INCLUDES
Snakes with the bellyshields 7 Colubridae
stretchingso far
permit only part of
costal
row
to be
seen
the
on
on
its bach
B
and
C"
POISONOUS.
forms)
seen
in both
and
harmless
VA-
COMPRESSED
like
eel's"
an
see
fig.1 A).
Sub-family Hydrophiinae. POISONOUS.
typicalof
Slightlycompressed
AND
RIETIES.
Viperid^.
1.
o
0
tail
POISONOUS
9
Family Colubridse.
Highly compressed
and
HARMLESS.
Fig.
A"
HARMLESS
Amblycephalidae.
flattened
(i.e.,
snakes.
lies
8
TAILS
Sea
i
Hydrophiinie).
each
(seefig.b).
m
Homalopsinse
last
side iclien the specimen is laid
Sub-fa
the
to
as
across
the
sea
snakes
(Hyarophiintc).Poisonous.
round
tails of landsnakes
and
poisonous species.
freshwater
(incliiding
THE
SNAKES
POISONOUS
OF
Fig. 2." Belly of Typhlops ( X
INDIA.
5)
^enlrais'
Fig. 3.
"
Belly of Hipisteshydrinus (nat.size).
""isi^eosisi'l^
Fig. 4.
"
Jnai
Xenopeltisunicolor.
fkfitriils.
Fig. 5.
"
Belly of Enssell's viper.
6
THE
A
OF
INDIA.
simplekey will enable the enquirer to isolate two
harmless snakes,
of the bellyshields
by an inspection
of
group of poisonoussnakes by the conformation
of
large groups
third
a
SNAKES
this
glanceat
alone, and
POISONOUS
the tail (seasnakes).
It
is
somewhat
a
diflScultmatter
the so-called non-poisonousand
between
snakes
begin with, all the viperine
conducted
Alcock
by
probablethat
and
all colubrme
colubrines
deadly
all colubrines
speaking,
differ in
The
the
in
poisonsof
investigations
1902
in their saliva
a
it appears
toxic element
the cobras,kraits,
and
properties.If this
and
poisonous,
are
from
their various
To
is so,
salivas
other
strictly
merely
degreesof toxicity.
Colubridce
characterised
divided
are
by the
furnished with
absence
snakes endowed
the maxilla.
with
snakes whose
in the form
short
falling
to prove
known
groovedfangsituated
a
however,
fatal to
ous,"
poison-
although all the
for
fall into this
man
front of
"
the term
reserve
category
produce baneful effectsusually
to
-the effects of many
death, whilst
of
of
that I
of convenience
are
group
(1) Aglyplia
(upper jaw bone), and (3) Proteroglypha,
bite is known
the
:
specialised
groovedtooth (fang)in the
a
term
a
groups
snakes
poisonfang,(2) Opisthoghjpha,
a
It is to the third group
purelyas
of
of
three
into
tooth
specialised
a
at the back of the maxilla
many
in
the line
to draw
poisonousvarieties.
Calcutta
snakes contain
their lethal
owe
the
and
poisonous,
are
Kogers*
identical with that to which
where
to decide
others remain
in
obscurity.
The
in
difficulty
laying
hard
down
to
the poisonous varieties
distinguish
all
from
their
fact that there
our
are
groups
only
are
All
with
of which
fecE^the existence
Kachin
68
marine.
following5
since
less than
no
of which
limits,
29
terrestrial,
the
non-poisonous allies
one
o20
and
and
may
fast
be
speciesalready known
68
may
specimen
Proceedings
of the
and
within
species,39
poisonousspeciesfall into
one
one
from the
appreciated
one
are
of
solitaryexception,viz.,Azemiops
be
ignored for
is known.
It
all
was
Hills,Burma.
*
by which
separatethem
poisonous.Of these
the
rules
Royal Society,1902,
p. 446
practicalpurposes
found
in
the
POISONOUS
THE
GROUP
Identification.
fig.lA).
Snout
and
SEA
1."
INDIA.
OF
SNAKES.
like an
compressed^(i.e.,
Jlattened
Tail
"
SNAKES
covered
croion
icith
eeVs
see
"
shields
largeplate-like
(fee
6).
fig.
l-'Ki.ij. Platiirus laticaudatus
The
sea
snakes
all
(Hydrophiince]are
by Rogersf shows that the
investigation
is eighttimes
{E7ih"/driiia
valakadr/en)
species
There
!
are
snakes,but
the
to bites from
if ever,
given,so that our knowledge of
in fact,we
is extremelymeagre,
snakes
of them
of
many
more
commonest
our
potent than
the
no
certain
with the
exceptionquoted above.
is extremelyperplexing,and
the species
is
rarely,
of this family of
venoms
have
that of
of fatalities
of the offender
name
"
one
any
of
venom
publishedrecords
many
owing
sea
).
reputed Inglilyvenomous.
Recent
the binocellate cobra
4
(X
"
The
in
knowledge of
of
recognition
consequence
in terminology is great. Even
best books
our
confusioji
and
fail to make
the recognitionof many
disappointing,
are
of
the
very
them
])ossible.
*
Only
one
speciesfound
harmless
snake
in rivers and
has
sea*.
a
compressed tail,viz., Chcisyilni!!
g ra uulatus,an
In this the
oxily.
t
"'
The
Lancet," February ";th,l'.i04.
snout
and
crown
are
covered
with
small
aquatic
scales
POISONOUS
THE
Id en tillcation.
back
(1) Tail
"
OF
KRAITS
2." THE
GROUP
the
SNAKES
(BUNGARUS).
(2) Median
round.
distinctly
enlarged{see fig, 7).
the 4"/ilargest
shields,
{seeI
Fig.
7.
"
Back
to
INDIA.
(3)
roxo
Only
of scaletdown
4
infralabial
TV^fig,8*).
of Common
Krait
(Bungarus cseruleus)
(x
2).
Val^Vertebrals.
C=
Costala
.
/"xv.-
FiG,
*
With
reference
shield which
to
8.
"
Chin
shields of
this latter
is called the
mental
point,
care
Bungarus caeruleus (X I5).
must
be
taken
not
to
count
the first median
(M.). Again, the last shield along the border of the lower
lipwhich touches the posterior sublinguils(P.S.) is invariably
to be considered
labial.
the last infra-
THE
10
SNAKES
POISONOUS
OF
INDIA.
F^y 9'
B
D
An"
Sc.=Subcaudals
V.=Vetitrals. An.=Anal.
Flfr. 9,
A.
B.
Bunsjarus fasciatus
ca;ruleus
\
"
c.
-Subcaudals
Subcaudals
flaV'iceps.
"
"
all entire.
'
D.
Naia
tripudians."Subcaudals
E.
Heraibungarus nigrescens.
"
entire at
all divided.
Anal
divided.
base,divided
at
tip of
tail
THE
The
POISONOUS
first essential
for
this the
our
since
of scales. The
a
11
krait is to find
krait.
Unfortunately,however,
confined
absolutely
the
to
viz.,the
distinguished,
similarly
are
Dipsadomorplius,Dendrophis,
the
enlargementis very obvious,and
a
this distinction is not
few harmless snakes
a
be
specimencannot
purpose
INDIA.
OF
identification of
point in the
enlargedvertebral row
without
SJSAKES
and
Dendrelaphis,some
kraits,
genera
species of
and Elachhtodon loestermanni,
Xenelaphishexagonotus,
Amhhjcephalus,
and
to this fact that other
it is due
to formulate
supplementarycharacters are
rigidrule.
a
characters.
Supplementarygeneric
Other
"
observed in the scale arrangementof
them,
to
are
follows:
as
but
supralabials
shield
and
the
never
touchingthe
6th
3rd also). The
(rarely
series,and
touches
in the whole
number
sindanus
and walli.
Anal
only
two
4th
the
entire.
4th
iris is black in all
is the largest
of the
infralabial
The costals
body, except in
Subcaudals
edge
species
except B.
the
are
same
specimensof
some
entire throughout,
in
or
The shields
and
no
the heads
on
that with
form
assistance
vertebral
11
the
Two
but the rest
are
are
is round
are
so
breadth
members
common,
local and
in
some
vary
is
of the genus
13
to
numbers
19,
and
are
of
the
species.The colour,
habitat is of great importance.
occur
within
viz,, Bungarus cceruleus and
some
in number
supralabial
they
from
of the
and
species,
uncommon,
pupillary
in form
similar
closely
2nd
exceptionof the
back, however,
in
The
species.
one
of all kraits
distinctive in all the
of the 12 known
limits.
this
pupilwhich
the
separatingthe eightspecies.The
varies
row
too, is very
the
in
of scales over
row^
in which
fasciatus,
is thinlymargined golden,and the
only discernible duringlife in
3rd
infra-
only at the base,the remainingshields beingdivided.
species
some
of
2nd
a single
Te7nporalj
touch the
Sublinguals
scales behind.
length of
that
absent,so
and
1st
supralabials.
Supralabials7, the
labial shield
only 2
be
to
necessarily
peculiar
the nostril.
and
Posterior
eye.
not
shield touches the
Loreal
ord.
importantcharacters
but
kraits,
nasal
the eye
5th and
touchingthe
4th
The
"
between
scales intervene
sary
neces-
Indian
our
B.
fasciatus
rare.
beingspecially
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
12
KEY
OF
THE
TO
INDIA,
KRAITS,
SCALES
IN
13 ROWS
IN
MIDBODY
(^seeFig. 7)
SCALES
IN
15 ROWS
IN
MIDBODY
(seeFig. 7).
OR
SOME
A"
THE
B-ALL
ALL
ENTIRE
(a) Vertebrals
broad
(b)
as
longer
the last costal
Vertebrals
broader
(a^) 2nd supralabialas
broad
in
lividus.
"^'
.
"
midbody.
1st and
as
than
(b^) 2nd supralabialnarrower
?
as
..
long
than
not
row
than
bungaroides,
B).
broad,
than
"
THE
{seeFig. d,Aand
narrow,
D).
BENEATH
SHIELDS
THE
^
BENEATH
(seeFig. 9, Cand
DIVIDED
TAIL
TAIL
SHIELDS
THE
Bunyarus flaviceps.
3rd
...
coiruleus.
^
ceylonicus.
i
3rd and often
1st.
(a-) Subcaudals
(a^)
23 to 40.
Tail
tapering.
(i') Tail
blunt,
black
and
Habitat.
black
Banded
Peculiar
white.
to
and
Ceylon
"
yellow.
Orissa,Assam,
"
Burma.
"
14
to
2 to 3
(b'^)?A
(c') No
13
bands
white
on
body.
on
7-
rnagnimaeidatus.
tail
on
"
48
to
11 to
fasciatus.
42 to 57.
(b-) Subcaudals
(a*) 11
,
finger-like.Banded
China
to
bands
white
body.
on
tail
bands.
multicinctus.
,
"
black
Uniform
above.
"
niger.
c
"
IN
SCALES
,
,,
17
OR
19
ROWS
IN
MIDBODY
/
(see
Fig. 7.)
IN
(B)"
TO
VERTEBRALS
IN
TO
237.
sindanus.
/^
"
THE
LONG
THAN
VENTRALS
TO
21S
SIND
BROADER
MIDBODY
PECULIAR
BROAD
VESTRALS
MIDBODY.
PECULIAR
THAN
LONGER
(A)" VERTEBRALS
BASIN
192
OF
TO
207
THE
walli.
GANGES
,.
If.
THE
POISONOUS
SNAKES
OF
INDIA.
Scltemv for IdenUficatimi
of flie Kraits.
"
Does
not
occur
within
our
limits.
13
THE
14
//)
POISONOUS
BTJNGAIITJS
is the
"
13
at the
divided
base,and
This
Distribution.
"
through
extends
where
a
head
the
I
"
of the
snake
or
tipof
with the scales
to 6 feet and
broad
as
subcaudals
long.
as
entire
are
the tail (seefig.
9
far
as
C).
north
Tenasserim,
as
Province.
about
the effects of its poison.
over.
Boulenger *:
Black
"
"
tail and
are
belongs to the Malayan fauna,but
to be known
quote from
yellow :
body. The
Burmese
our
yellowvertebral line,two
red
Krait.
genus
vertebral scales
Malay Peninsula
Grows
Dimensions."
Colour.
The
"
rare
Nothing seems
"
the
of
one
towards the
it encroaches upon
Poison.
Tellow-headea
only
in the middle
broader
even
INDIA.
rows.
Supplementarycharacters.
or
OF
FLAVIOEPS-Tlie
It
Identification.
arranged in
SNAKES
outer
sometimes
out
with-
or
black and
of scales
rows
with
above,
yellow;
posteriorpart of body
orange
red."
1^)BTTNGAIins
BUNGAEOIDES-Tbe
It is the
Tdeniiiieation.
"
any
are
shields beneath
only krait
rather broader
Distribution.
in the
This
"
rows
"
vertebral scales
a
very
rare
from
Hills in Assam
the
are
that
has
these shields
and
"
(rrows
Black
a
very
"
Oat.
as
long
local
one.
Himalayas in the vicinity
N. Cachar.
to 3 feet.
with white linear chevrons
broad
body.
species,and
the
as
Nothing known.
Dimensions.
Colour,
scales in 15
Zrait.
In all the others
posterior
part of
is
the Khasi
Darjeeling,
"
The
only been recorded
Hitherto it has
Poison.
Sill
throughout{see fig.9).
entire
"
of
with
the taildivided.
characters.
Supplementary
or
ITorthern
or
crossbars.
Snakes., Brit. Mue., Vol. Ill,p.
371
,
THE
IG
POISONOUS
SNAKES
OF
INDIA,
Ti.
Fig. 10.
Bungams
"
Supplementarycharacters.
"
in any
others of the genus,
long.
The back is
The
fasciatns
vertebral
the scales
(x
row
is more
enlargedthan
being considerablybroader than
ridgedalong the spine,and
9 A),
finger-like
{see fig.
-).
the tail is
blunt,and
POISONOUS
THE
From
Distribution.
"
extends
India
in the
the Mahanadi
1 know
that of the
is
and
coloured,I think
one
the dorsum
of the
and
locally,
without
at
woman
She
right foot.
effects.
constitutional
any
A
this snake.
suffered
She
and
chloroform,
ipecacuanha,
which
have
know
we
Russell's ^
after
the
26
minutes,
1 hour
55
bitten
was
on
and swelling
tingling,
side,but
it
recovered
with
ammonia
none
locally,
ammonia
caused
the
as
distinctively
very
treated
tested its effect
Fayrer"
in 17, 18 and
caused
fowl
a
are
of their
and
man,
gg
race
a
many
Tavoy
beneficial effects
slightest
experiment on
bitten.
being
limit
Fayrertmentions
that
was
and
internally,
as
so
Province, and
pain in the leg and thighof
some
like
testimonyworthy of credence.
of bite from
case
Burmans, who
romancing
to
in their
one
this
of
about
poisonat
that the bite is not fatal to
common
very
the Basin
Western
most
of the
virulence
ccernleus.
given
not
brethren,declare
a
Ganges the
of the
estimates the
krait B.
common
observers
oriental
North
sula
Penin-
from
(N.-W. Behar).
Rogers!
"
only known
correspondingroughlyto
East
River.*
Subregion,it
Irrawaddy and the
of the
It is
Himalayas.
North
of is Bettiah
Poison.
snake
of the
the Malayan
and
the Basins
to
17
INDIA.
OF
China
Southern
through Tenasserim
Brahmaputra,South
good
SNAKES
snake
in
die
to
of
bite.
26
minutes
fowls, death being
on
minutes,and
hours
26
18
minutes.
*
There
labelled
is
7 other
record is shattered
Beddoma's
of
of this snake
in
Beddome,
and
Peninsula
by the following facts.
India,not
spsciesfroni Southern
caudolincatus.
Di'iidrelaphis
and
octolineatus,
from
in which
areas
snakes
Burma
from
Bungarus
and
fasciatns
Tenasserim
presentedby him from
Museums
and
presented by Colonel
India
known
otherwise
from
He
this
records
no
These
area.
T. himalai/nnus,Lycodon jara, Simotes splendidus,
TropidonotusparaUdus, T. siibminiatas,
are
S.
Museum
ia the sole record
specifiedabove.
accuracy
less than
This
Anamallays.
the
outside the limits
The
British
specimen in the
one
from
and
Southern
In
Tenasserim
Indian
proof of
including
on^
are
oi
X
"
statements,
in the
ui'/f
Indian
Beddome
British
the
it would
appeal
that
received
and
Indian
specimens from
mixed
up
with
his
Thanatophidia,"
p. 45.
Serpents,pp.
4 and
5,
" Ibid,pp. 84, 85, 101, 120, 134
1896
and
Society of Bengal, Vol.
LX,
Boulenger's Catalogue of Snakes
Journal
Museum,
Lancet," February 6th, 1904, p. 349
*[fIndian
in
Bungarus fa sciatus h?Ld been
1891.
"
specimens
otherwise
known
are
collections.
these
Sclater's list of Snakes
t
these snakes
it is certain that
viz.,Simotes cruentatuf, S. violaceus,S. cychirus
these facts
From
Dipsadomorphus hexagonotns.
Burma
areas,
of
Now
there
because
those
All
occurs.
el
seq,
Asiatic
1893
to
creatures
and then walked
restlessness^
exhibited
but
to 10
fatal issue in intervals
suffer littlepain,
bit lame.
a
All these
days.
thigh. They appearedto
bitten in the
were
28 minutes
and
4 hours
varyingbetween
produceda
do*s
Again Fayrer's*experiments on
INDl^.
OF
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
18
Dejectionof
or
followed, and salivation,
retching,
vomitingwere very constant,
spirits
and in one
case
cough. The gait became uncertain,and
persistent
and
became affected,
breathing
In at least 3
noted.
abated
there
case
for
time, but death
a
and
diarrhoea,
was
the symptoms
or
days.
some
w^ere
spasms
In
mucosanguineousdejecta
coagulatedfirmlyafter
cases
the
these with
one
death.
of Burmese
veracity
experimentswith
ments.
state-
cobra
and
poisons{g.v.).
daboia
Dimensions.
Colour.
7.
"
It grows
"
to G feet and
"
broader
candidns with which
colour,and
the
221"),
From
and
Krait.
bands than any
fewer
it has been
the
from
multicinctus it is known
confused
uther kiait.
it is known
by
its
of ventrals
(218-
of ventrals,
restricted habitat.
more
of
largernumber
by the larger number
known
Distribution.'"rS.t jireseiit
basin
Burmese
colour,and habitat.
supralabial,
2nd
narrow
colour,and
yellow.
habitat.
cceruleas it is known
From
black and
MAGNIMACULATU".-The
BUNGARTJS
From
over.
and completelybanded
Alternately
It has
Identification.
the
muscular
some
some
to confirm
for instance
Compare
posture.The
recovered
partially
in another
experiments all tend
These
cases
after
supervened
blood in all
The
occasioned.
were
in two
the animals
cases
recumbent
prompteda
weakness
till muscular
staggering,
the
from
Irrawaddy.f
It
a
very
is the
restricted
area
within
only krait peculiarto
Burma.
"
"'
Thanatophidia," pp. Chi,69, 84, 99, 101
t Monywa,
Meiktila, Wall
and
Evans.
Jourl. Asiat. Soc,
Meiktila,""'clater,
Shwebo
Evans.
Diutrict,
"
In
,
107
and
Bomb.
Bengal, Vol.
Epistola.
118.
Nat.
LX,
Hist. Jourl., Vol.
p.
245.
XII,
p.
611, and
Hm;-.wbi, Myingyan,
and
Poison.
Dimensions.
on
Grows
"
Black
"
bands
3^ inches.
lightbands
MULTZCIITCTTJS.-The
has
This species
Identification.
the fewer
magnimaculatusby
Distribution.
Rare
"
t
3
or
lines in the
in the
British
Museum
Museum
are
labelled
Toungoo.
from
and
Evans
its
supralabiai,
also in
Occurs
Purneah.
I
obtained
is
from
one
specimen
a
the
specimensin
Two
from
habitat.
there
and
Rangoon,
Insein,another dubiouslyfrom
other krait.
2nd
narrow
colour,and
ventrals,
Burmah.
in
Erait.
and
by colour,and habitat,
candidus
habitat,from
than any
bands
ccerulens it is distinguished
by the
colour,and
and
Eanded
Many
more
"
From
body
streaked with black
white
are
the
on
Bellyquitewhite.
the snake.
STTiraAETTS
/"'
"^'
to 4 feet
with 11 to 14
These
the tail.
lengthof
19
INDIA.
Nothing known.
"
Colour.
OF
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
Indian
Southern
China,
Hainan, and Formosa.
Poison.
Nothingknown.
"
Dimensions.
Black
Colour.
"
11
to 13
3 feet 8 inches is the
"
with
) BUNGAEU5
(/'^
"
than
subcaudals
long
more
are
Distribution.
from
*Sclater
the title
Garo
in
specimen from
bands
the
on
body,
obtained
and
Hills
He
Krait.
blue-black above, with the vertebrals
ventrals and
body. The
of the
middle
than in lividus.
numerous
These, I have examined.
find it.
the
or
Black
Greater
specimensin Dibrugarh
seven
have
latelyreceived
four
Pashok
one
the Eastern
from
2,000
and
4,500 feet.
to
(Sclater.)*
(ia the Jourl.,Asiat.Src, Bengal, Yol. LX.,
Bungarus Hvidas.
white
pure
Tindharia 2,800 feet, and
Sibsagarand
third
I
Sadiya Assam,
Himdayas
long.
"
48
NIGBR-Tlie
Quite black
Identification.
broader
to
Belly white.
the tail.
on
31
from
I know.
measurement
largest
notes
Those
that
from
two
of
p.
246) mentions
these have
Sibsagar and
the Garo
Saidpur ^Dinapore District)is probablythe
3
specimens under
the vertebrals
true
Hills
are
broader
B.
Ikid'if bnt
than
niger. The
T
failed
to
POISONOUS
THE
20
Poison.
Nothing knovffn.
"
Dimensions.
Colour.
the base of the
-Tho
bands
The
Identification.
"
Ceylon Krait
less dark
or
Earawala.'
or
Krait
It is the Common
complete.
are
The
Supplementaryeharacters.
"
of the scales
breadth
the
respectit almost
Distribution,
Poison.
"
reportedby
Dr.
Peculiar
"
this snake
of bites from
only cases
Mr.
E. E. Green
4
till10
legsrefused
In
At
a.m.
the
to
and
record
former
he
a.m.
dosed with
was
whisky
vomitingensued.
At 2 p.m. he
to move.
are
me
103)
p.
5-30
When
a. m.
difficultand
swallowingwas
about till his
walked
known
(Spol.Zeylan.April1908,
increased
drowsiness
shortlyafterwards
and
Ceylon.
to
The
this
in
B.fasciatus.
bitten in the left foot at
coolywas
is unusuallylarge,
row
and
exceeds the length,
considerably
with
compares
vertebral
Willey(SpolZeylan.April 1906, p. 228).
sleepyand
He
feverish
was
insensible antl he died at 4 p.m.
In Dr.
within
Willey'scase
Malay
a
Colour."
f^
to 8 feet and
Grows
"
black
Glistening
"Karait"
The
"
and
pamboo'' of
Madras.
''GoJi
"
cross
succumbed
paragoodoo
"
"
Erait.
arcuatus.)
chitti "
Dhomum
Malabar.
B.
bars.
Common
The
CiSBEULEXTS."
^TTITaAEUS
''Valla
Gedi
Colombo
in
over.
with white
(Synonym
The
bitten
woman
12 hours.
Dimensions,
"
more
Ceylon.
of
a
with
inch.
an
ventrals and sub-candals.
posterior
OEYLONIOTJS
BTJNGASUS
Belly white
black above.
half
4 feet and
specimenwas
My largest
"
Uniform
"
mottlingat
li')
INDIA.
OF
SNAKES
or
''chitti"
virian''
Katto
and
of
Bengal.
"Anali"
of
nS,gera"of Mysore accordingto Rice, and
and
**'
Poola
Pakta
"
of
the
Coromandel
the
Coast
(Russell).
*
Gunther
A'ncistrodoH
and
other
Authors
have
wrongly
ht/pmtle.Ferguson, Willey, and
used
this
as
others have, however,
the
Singhalese name
shown
this
a
mistake.
for
THE
POISONOUS
The
Identification.
linear white
"
the
and
undivided
SNAKES
subcaudals
OF
INDIA.
identity.One importantfeature
with
arches, taken
(seefig.B)
21
suffice
for those to
in
its
spiteof
all
colour
in tryingto identify
their specimensby
precautions
persist
instead
markings
fact that in
of
all the snakes
aidicus
Lycodon
by conformation
evident
most
which resemble
this
in colour,viz.,
species
striatus,togetherwith
L.
and
(certain varieties)
in the anterior
tilltheyare
posteriorly
that the
white
part of the body,
bars
is frequently
without marks
anterior one-third
vertebral
"
is peculiar
in beingas
supralabial
Peninsula India,and
but is
only Krait
of the
of the
broad
Indus
It has
Ceylon.
a snake
essentially
It is the
the
Throughout
"
one-half
or
fade
of the
body
in adults.
Supplementarycharacters. In the
about as broad as long in the middle
Distribution.
graduallyfade
and
distinct posteriorly,
and often
most
are
"
2nd
bars
cross
often lost. It is characteristicof this krait,
however,
anteriorlyin fact,the
away
and
of shields,
is the
relationship
and
and D, davisoni,
the white
Dryocalamus nympha, D. gracilis
are
rows
declare
to
who
note
scale
15
scales
are
body (seefig.7).
The
the 3rd.
as
Valley,the
found
been
plains. It
in Peninsula
found
the
row
Gauges Valley,
is very
Ceylon.*
in
rare
South
India
4,000 ft.,
to
up
of the
Ganges
Basin.
Poison.
this very
This is known
"
of its bite.
*
There
Cantor
The
specimens
5
from
the
Malay
of
this
record.
It
Malay Peninsula
on
the
think
I
noteworthy
the
sole
in
the
there
British
other
Museum,
Indian
authority of Cantor,
not
as
far East
because
to
the
Hypslrhina sleholdi.
and
as
specimens
British
Museum,
viz.,
received
Further
by
him
snakes
Boulenger has
above
Bengal
from
cast
doubts
presented to the British Museum
of these
to 1896.
statements
vile
that
snakes
Cantor
given
are
the
enumerated
from
received
his
and
on
these circumstances
together
with
inadvertently mixed
the
bj the
localityof
same
a
collector
5
Bengal
snake8
from
his
specimen
labelled
Boulenger's Catalogue of Snakes
in
one
of
from
the
escape
vceridtus
Malayan
Dryophh
Assam.
Bengal
cerasogaster,
cannot
British
but
Bengal
from
name
Bungnni.^
with
recorded
are
fasciolutns,Helicops
known
in
by
discredit
Ti/jihlopsbothriorhyn-
viz.,
are
the
presented
to
Polyodontopltig sacjittarius,Xenochrophh
Lycodon Jara, and ffypsirhina enhydrls. Under
conviction that the
these
following species
the
of
of
it is certain
Now
Burma.
All
cases
to
Snakes
cJms, Polyoiiontophissatjittarlus,
Xenochrophis cerasogasler, Zamenia
schistosus
to
measure,
good grounds
are
sis
that
literature on
references
in great
assigned,
this snake
of
Peninsula.
is
remarkably few
be
must
reason
are
accuracy
from
makes
species
common
but the
fatal to man,
to prove
the
were
collection.
mycter\zinf"
In
support
Museum,
189:^
THE
SNAKES
POISONOUS
OF
INDIA.
Ift^.
Olhx.-^-
^
F.
(i,^"W"-
FlG
11.
"
Bim?arus
casiuleus.
THE
24
Dimensions.
POISONOUS
Grows
"
SNAKES
4^
to
black
Colour.^Glistening
the
across
back,sometimes
Called
measured
a
the natives of
by
skin 4
feet
the scales
The
Supplementarycharacters.
"
the
in
middle
the
divided towards
tipof
Grows
"
"WALLI
with scales much
compared with
207) than
in sindanus
Distribution.
Known
"
I obtained
See footnote
to
latelyseen
8
seen
reportedto be
common
The
the 1st
(220
to
is
generalappearance.
the
and
vertebral
row
in
long.
2nd
and
in
posteriorly.It
3rd.
is conspicuously
supralabial
The
ventrals
are
fewer
(198
237).
the
from
United
Provinces
(Fyzabad),
2i. Walli.
two
from
o
evident
Midnapore,and Purneah.t
s})ecimens,
specimens in St. Joseph's College (Darjeeling),
part of Dr. Vincent
collection,localitynot
Dr. Annandale
I have
it is
rows,
than
broader
"
Kichard's
sometimes
-"Wall's Krait.
19
or
Supplementarycharacters.
1 1 have
are
fig.9 C).
bars most
cross
in 17
"
"
(or19) rows,
slightly
longerthan
are
subcaudals
B. ccerukus
krait,
common
Scales
Identification.
where
in 17
to 6 feet.
BT7NGARUS
narrow,
vertebrals
Sind,*where
with white
Black
extremelylike the
midbodv
".
Nothing known.
Dimensions.
"
Bellywhite.
part of that region.
in the upper
Colour.
pairs
Krait.
the back
over
the tail (asin
"
"
Pee-un
body. The
of the
Distribution. Peculiar to
Poison.
"
in
supralabials
equallybroad.
the first three
broad
Sind
Sind
Upper
"
and
less absent in front.
or
SINDANXTS-Tlio
This has
Identification.
and
I have
with linear,white arches thrown
more
BTTITGARUS
by
INDIA.
inches.
6|
or
feet.
OF
known
Midnapore
in the Indian
Museum
but
probably Bengal.
(J. A. S. B.
from
190o
Purueah.
1-8
The
specimen referred
to
p. 13) as s;n(7a"j"" is this species
THE
Poison.
SNAKES
OF
INDIA.
25
Nothingknown.
"
Dimensions.
Colour.
POISONOUS
"
The
record
largest
Mercurial-black
"
roundish
white
manner
characteristicof
so
beneath towards
spots.
with
Those
4 feet
was
llf inches.
white
equidistant
and
ccaruleus,
3." COBRAS
Identification.
AND
(l) Tail
"
o1
pairs in
the
tail is mottled
SNAKES.=^
Tlw
(2)
formed
sindamis.
CORAL
round.
The
sindamis.
its tipagain unlike cceruleus and
GROUP
in
arranged
not
are
bars
3rd
shield
supralahial
touches the nasal,and the eye {seefig^12).t
z.z:
Fkj.
*
I
The
iia,me
coral snake
is
12." Naia
applied to
the titlehere for those snakes
use
singularlyappropriate,
term
a
colouring resembling pink coral.
South
which
since most
tripiulians
(X
are
American
l.U.
poisonous species,Elaps coralliitui.
allied to the
of them
have
above
and
bellies adorned
This, however, disappearsafter
a
day
to
which I think
with
or
a
two's
most
thi
beaiitifal
immersion
in
spirit.
*"
I
am
only
aware
of
one
harmless
snake
shield, viz.,Xenopeltis
unicolor,and in this
in which
case
the
it fails
to
3rd
touch
snpralabialtouches
the eye.
the
(See fig.13.)
naaal
THE
26
This second
(see footnote, page
and includes 9
4 genera,
SNAKES
INDIA.
OF
feature ulone separatesthe members
snakes
all other
ANAL
POISONOUS
(!). The
group
from
comprises-
species.
Fig.
13.
Key
to the
ENTIRE.
of this oroup
Xenopeltis uuioolor ( x 2).
identification
of the Species.
"
(SeeAn. Fig. 9.)
TEMPORAL
TOUCHES
PRALABIALS
5th
AND
Qth SU-
ONLY,
{see T, Fig. 15i?.)
touching priEocubir.
(SeeInt.
and Pra.,Fig. 15^ )
Belly miiform red
Doliophishirirgatus.
iritestinalis.
Belly hirred uiith black
Doliopliii"
Internasal
Int.
touching prfeocular. (See
and
Nain tripudians.
Pra., Fig. 165.)
7 OUCHES
TEMPORAL
AND
1th
5th, CM,
SUPRALABIALS.
(See T, Fig. 18.4.)
Subcaudals
at base of tail entire. (See Sc,
Naia
Inoujams.
Fig. OC.)
divided throughout. (See Sc,
Subcaudals
Internasal
not
Fig. 9D,)
ANAL
Callophishihroni.
(See An.
DIVIDED.
TEMPORAL
LABIALS.
TOUCHES
Fig.9.)
5th AND
dth SUPRA-
(See T, Fig.20 R)
SupralabialsG. (SeeFig.21B.)
Supralabials7. (SeeFig. 20i?.)
TEMPORAL
TOUCHES
5th,"th,AND
SUPRALABLALS.
(See T,Jig.18.4.)
Tail with
Tail
with
2 black
no
band
bands
trimacnlalvs.
Callnphii,
wncciellandi.
('aJlophi"i
1th
CuUopjhii"
maculiceps.
Ifemihvngaru"i
niyrescens
THE
POISONOUS
DOLIOPHIS
SNAKES
BIVIRGATUS-The
OF
INDIA.
WMte-striped
27
Coral
Saake.
tnt
P^.
Fig.
This
Ident/fieMion.
"
is uniform
and
the next
the anal shield
and
supralabials,
them
1.")."Doliophis bivirsitus.
1).
(X
speciesagree
from all the rest of the group.
The
and
nasal, prasocular,
supracoiilar
which touches the 5th and
touch
sublinguals
Posterioi'
Scales
only 6
tinguish
to dis-
serve
bellyin
this snake
red in colour.
"
4th
having
entire,which characters
touch
Supplementary characterK.- Prcv.frontals
The
in
6th
the 1st, 3rd
are
throuohout.
13
largestof
in
whole
the
frontal.
internasal,
posterior
Temporal. One,
"
supralabials.
Supraiabmls6.
the
and
touch the 4th
sublinguals
is the
the
4th
body.
only of the infralabials.
infralabial
series,and
Anal
Anterior
only. Infralabials.
"
touches
entire.
2
scales
Subcaudals
behind.
divided
This
Distribution.
"
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
28-
extends
form
Malayan
INDIA.
OF
into
Burmese
our
tory,
terri-
where, however, it is rare.
Poison,
about
Nothingis known
"
poisonglandsin this and
The
it.
other poisonoussnakes,instead
peculiar
; unlike all our
to the temple they extend back into the abdominal
""fbeing confined
the next
are
as
*avity
far
Dimensions.
Grows
"
to 5 feet.
Blackish
Colour.
"
^ck.
the heart.
as
two
four
or
IITTESTINALZS-Tlie
SOLIOFEZS
Like
Identification.
the anal is entire,but the
Belted
last it has
the
"
white
lines down
the
Bellyred.
tail red.
and
Head
with
above
Coral
Snake.
and
only G supralabial
shields,
bellyis barred with black.
the
touch
internasal,
Supplementary characters. Proefrontals
and frontal.
supraocular
Temporal. One,
posteriornasal,preeocular,
Anterior
6.
"vhich touches the 5th and 6th supralabials.
Supralabials
touch the 1st,8rd and 4th infralabials. Posterior sublinguals
mblinguals
"
"
touch
the 4th infralabial.
series,and
of
touches
entire.
Anal
body.
"
Poison.
"
Nothing known
"
Grows
"
for
as
partsof
in
common
fairly
Dimensions.
or
the
divided
13
are
in
whole
length
throughout.
belongs to the Malayan fauna, but
as
I
am
thoughit
aware,
appears
to
Malayan region.
to 2 feet.
Boulenger*says
*'
:
streaks
lighterlongitudinal
black
Scales
of the
largest
extend into Burmah.
is said to
Colour
Subeaudals
This like the last
Distribution.
be
"
scales behind.
2
4th is the
The
Infralabials.
Brown
;
tail
or
blackish above, with darker
pink or red
beneath
;
bellywith
crossbars."
THIPUDIANS-THe
NAIA
Vernacular
names.
late cobra is called
variety,which
"
"
Accordingto Favrer
"
gokurrah
exhibits
*
Cat.
Cobra.
a
about
singlespot
Snakes, BritisL Museum,
the
Calcutta
on
binocelor
s})ectacled
and
the hood
Vol. Ill,p. 402.
the monocellate
subjectto much
POISONOUS
THE
receive further
East.
distribution
In
frequentlyin
as
by the
it is called
is known
"
as
"
Coast.
Coromandel
and
of
recognition
the
as
cobra
If the snake
rule.
a
a
seems
that the
remembered
equaldegree,and that
a
will
hardlyadmit
and their allies),
erect
(Tropidonoti,
thoughto
a
The
degree.
lesser
of the monocellate
or
of
them
recognise
After
be
cannot
these
death
if reliance is
the
hood
specimen is a cobra,shake
have
pulled out,
a
hood
make
almost
Keelbacks
neck,
of
of
the
the
them
quite
ably
diagnosisinvari-
marks
modified
so
would
subject,
if the
I
and
express
have
or
fail to
where
the
frequently under
think
neck
none
is stiff
creature
surprise when
their heads, and
claimed
an
ellipseon
an
both
this
hood
these alone.
the loose skin about
seen
and
people
to
the hood
on
these
obliterated,and
readily demonstrated,
conditions known
Again,I
is
on
[ilaced
the
on
flatten the
by
would
with
"
Stillit must
its hood
are
variety,
people unfamiliar
obscured that most
doubt.
a
spectaclemark
Many cobras,however, have
it is
this is true
the
snakes,especially
and if constant
distinctive of this species,
easy.
Nagoo
and
themselves,
Burmese
In
Mysore
quarters with the
binocellate cobra,and the oval spot surrounded
hood
India.
peoplelivingin India,
hamadryad expands
certain harmless
and
the Malabar
on
simplething,and
very
"
of the Burmese.
alive at close
is seen
expanded,its identification
be
"
howk
Mwe
doultt that to most
no
"
"
overlap,
samp
of
In
"
further
to
Nag
and
according to Russell
It is the
I have
Idetitification.
''
Moorookan."
'"
and
parts
Pamboo,"
according
seems
heard
in other
as
and
Burmah
forms
two
I have
Nalla
"
Sairpoon
Nagara havoo,"
"
Tamils
use
varietyin the
common
good in
of the
Bengal
I have
it is probablethat
latter is decidedly
rare
holds
converse
common.
samp
Madras
the
are
"
Kala
Coast
Bengal the
In
both
and
"
the
but
experience,
to my
is the
to
appear
variations in colour.
former
in which regionthe
Peninsula,
Indian
names
partsof India, and
The
to Bengal.
they are peculiar
29
Both
keantiah."
"
in other
names
INDIA.
OF
qualification
accordingto
heard these
never
shape,the
and
variation in size
SNAKES
told that
they know
of
a
better.
harndess
existed, so
a
that
snake
one
that in
admit
must
und sometimes
on
rather
"
Zamenis
(now
"
the
pointedout
in
that
mo
long
footnote
of
considered
Englishman,
an
seen
poison-fangs."So
faultycharacters
these
guidedby
:
just broughtto
vwcosus)
recognised,
strikingcorroboration
is a
snakes, declare
authorityon
an
snakes
I have
"
says
cobtu is not
leost,the
at
Indian
on
INDIA.
is mistaken for it. Nicholson's
snake
experience.He
own
my
harmless
a
OF
SNAKES
fe\v cases,
a
151" of his work
page
"
POISONOUS
THE
'60
Ptyas
a
was
mucosus
cobra ; he
a
people continue
as
mistakes
diagnosis,
even
be
to
to
sure
are
occur.
Now
there
scales of
are
which
cobra
a
question. These
two
or
one
are
if looked
follows
as
distinctive
very
should
for
placeits identitybeyond
:
"
shield touches the hilernasaV* (seePra.
prccooulat'
Tlie
In
only two other
snakes
Iti
B).
in
small
a
XylapMs pei-roteti,
India, and the
of Southern
the ord
the 4:th and
Betioeen
the
occurs,
harmless
touch
not
third similar scale borders
the lower
lookingfor
observed
A
head
It
it.
it in the
out
on
one
a
small
Sometimes
lip. This
lines
in
eye
in
side.
it is seen
one
This
is
the
a
very easy
rostral
in front the
point
in other
to
a
determine
(in land cuhibrinee)are
a
when
never
even
of sea-snakes.
species
of these
pointscannot
is mutilated
over
the
called
caee
where
the back of
its
the
size and
a
cobra
of the bracket-
arms
by thickened
placedanother
drawing
that
internssals, and
the
beyond
I have shown
if it is remembered
praeoculars. In the iiistarces
and in such
praefrontal,
opened
snakes,the pattern forming a
Fig, IS),it is obvious that this shield from
considered
lapping
over-
1 have
the head
this, I have
the
be
few
a
looked,
over-
should
a
even
be
easily
do, by
other
which
or
it may
in
concavity
these form,and
second
scale may
feature about the scales
one
is seen
in
or
If,however,
both
scale
luedge-shaped
a
other land snake.
no
that
Beside
fig. 17.
illustrate what
behind
broken
the mouth
is peculiar
to itself. It is the
shapedpatternwhich
"'
that
hamadryad,but
there is
recognition
which
in
occurs
is rarely
so
be made
so
lip,
In
the nasal.
lyingpartlyor wholly concealed, as
of the upper
v"c.,
peculiarto the hills
snake
Amblt/cephahismuntkola.
(seefig.16 B).
cuneate
Int., iig.
and
to be found,
relationship
shields
infralabial
5th
"
"
is this
rare
shield does
supralabial
the
about
peculiarities
shields
the
shields
the
chevron.
immediately
touching the
shield touches
praefrontal
positionhas
prseocularis said
a
the
prior claim
to be absent.
to
eye
as
to
be
32
Infralahials.The
Fi(i. 17
Scales
A.
"
B.
subeqiial.Scales,
2
"
19 to 27 ; 2 heads
to Sind in the west
Poison.
bite
cobra
one
LycOdon aulicns.
tripndians.
Naia
It is
an
but
fatal ;
on
determine,escapes with moderate
dose
injected
beingless than
In 8 of these
all of which
treatment
no
Dimensions.
"
the lethal.
or
Grows
was
but
plains,
by
no
the
means
in the east
alwaysa
is
it has lieen
every
case
of
contrary a percentage,
very
symptoms, the
severe
Fayrerrecords
stated to be due without
cases
varieties
colour
feet.
to man,
prove
or
throughout.
other of its many
or
midbody
;
usually(rarely13
15
inhabitant of the
6,000
will
necessarily
to
19-27
from Burmah
possessions
the Himalayas to Ceylon and
and from
hard
the head
Indian
Undoubtedlyfatal
"
of
front of the vent
our
at altitudes up to
recorded
back
and about
largestof the series,
length behind
in
occurs
snake.
common
fairly
the
"
heads
whole of
the
throughout
are
INDIA.
OF
/SuScaMtia/s divided
It
"
on
"
lengthin
J wa^ entire.
Disirilndion.
5th
4th and
"
17).
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
fatal cases.
many
to the bite of
doubt
cobra,in
a
tried,the victims died in from -ito 3 hours.
to 6 feet
5^ inches, but
6 feet is
a
very
tional
excep-
length.
Colour.
colour
to
"
Very
variable.
It may
olivaceous,brown,
or
be any
tarry
shade,from
black
and
even
buff
or
wheat
foliagegreen
THE
These
(N. Siam).
hood
hues
be without
may
oval
an
POISONOUS
uniform,or
are
marks, or
spot surrounded
ITAIA
SNAKES
by
adorned
or
ellipse
an
BT71T"^B.US"
The
OF
more
with
2 characters which
following
must
Cobra.
luithone
this alone
be known
will
if the
by
the
to
serve
is
badly
however, the
existence
-exist. The shieldsunder
co
another,
head
In case,
out.
of these.
of
row
of scales is similar in size and
the
shapeto
the
the base of
whilst those towards the extremityare divided,and
entire,
the tailare
vertebral
will
Zing
in contact
Even
mutilated I think this feature will be made
point is dubious,the snake
or
and
other snake.*
every
variegated.The
spectacle-like
device,or
a
Hamadryad
parietals
[see Oc, fig.18),
this from
distinguish
33
various modifications
"
behind
less
or
A pairof largeshieldsare
Identification.
the
INDIA.
the
adjacentrows.
A
B
Naia
Fig. 18~
Supplementarycharacters.
"
bungarus (" nat. size).
touch
Prcefrontals
and
nasal, prgeocular,
supraocular,
lower
and
*
touchingthe 5th,6th
and 7th
frontal.
4 infralabials. Posterior
5th infralabials.
The
Infralabials.
every other snake
exceptions where
are
occipitals
"
the
internasal,
rior
poste-
Temporals 2,
the
rior
7. Antesupralabials.
Supralabials
touch
sublinguals
In almost
the
are
parietals
present, they do
5th is the
sacceeded
not
touch the
sublinguals
touch
of
largest
the series
by small scales,and in the
one
another
4th
{fee Oc, fig.13).
rare
34
THE
touches
and
POISONOUS
SNAKES
2 scales behind.
OF
Scales. ~2
heads
(rarely15) mid-body 15, 2 heads lengthsin
Distribution. It is found
of
in suitable
in the
literature
hillyregionsup
in
fatal to
Undoubtedly
"
this renowned
on
saw
snake-charmer
a
bitten
Evanst mentions
furnish
bittten
was
of
in the base of the index
afterwards.
victim
a
bullock cart
bnllock, which
mentions
Phipson) making
animal
an
minutes, when
"
The
it
unprovoked
Ctreatment
symptoms
beaten
was
not
were
died
but
specified),
hamadryad which
the
afterwards.
soon
assanlt
length (identified
by
on
cooly
a
hold
treated
was
in
woman
for at least 8
by
in about
Doctor
"
a
20
minutes.
swelling,vomiting,
laboured
succumbed
pain and
local
the
inch in
She
same
this time
in which
a
The
died.
maintainingits
off.
snake-charmer.
beingbitten by one
that he died shortly
result
by
few minutes.
a
Shan
a
Burman
case
10 feet 1
one
her by the leg,and
Assam, seizing
Babu
the
bitten
was
The
passedover.
Raby Noblel
Mr.
a
also furnishes another
He
was
finger,with
u
believinghimself
afterwards
soon
instance of
copious
a
show
frequently
die within
belonging to
and
occurs
records of itsbite. Theobald*
few
so
to
foolhardyBurman,
a
hand,
the
in
also records another
observer
the Punjab?)
but itis remarkable that
is known
ception
ex-
7,000 feet at least.
altitude of
an
in Buniiah
by one
case
a
to
man,
suake-poison-proof,
teasingone
He
(withthe
Sind,and
Rajpootana,
snake, which
should
aggressive
spirit,
most
15. Anal entire.
front of vent
that is,in junglesor their vicinity.
It
localities,
and
plains,
Poison.
I believe Western
Ceylon,and
head 17
lengthsfrom
Indian domains
throughoutour
"
INDIA.
breathingand prostration.Theobald" records,on the information of a
Burman, an elephantbeing bitten on the trunk by a hamadryad whilst
browsing
3 hours.
on
foliage,with the result that
some
Rogers^ estimates
that the
Phipson II
The
"
The
snake which
15 feet 5 inches.
the
Pioneer"
"
Branson, 28th
"
Cat.
largestrecord
Another
of
was
I
about
in
poisonis
very
cobra.
am
aware
capturedin
of is that
the
Konkan
exactly similar length was
September 4:th,ISl'G
Madras
ensued
virulence of the
littleinferior to that of the binocellate
Dimensions.
death
from
Travancore
by
reportedby
measuredt
reportedin
Lieut
V.
H.
Infantry.
J Bom.
Rept. Brit. BuTma, 1868, p. 61. t Bombay Nat. Hist. Jourl., Vol. XIV.,
Nat. Hist. Jourl., Vol. XV., p. .S58. " Cat. Eept. Brit. Burma, 1868,
H The
Lancet, Feb. Gth, 1'.I04,
p. 349.
1|Bombay
Nat. Hist.
p. 413p
Jourl.,Vol. II.,p. 245.
("].
THE
Colour,
Young
"
cross
bars
similar
POISONOUS
jet black
are
chevrons
SNAKES
with
OF
white
or
vary
a
the
on
deal.
good
whitish
or
yellowish
They
bars
cross
be
may
than the intervals.
too, the shields on
The
on
less distinct
or
the
body, which
often
are
part of the
scales
more
on
Light specimens
the head and
more
body and
the neck
are
less
oi-
tail. Often
bordered
are
with
be
bellymay
nearlyuniform, mottled,or barred,but
is usually
or
cream
coloured.
uniformlylight-yellowish
CALLOrniS
BZBEOITI-Sibroii's
4
oliveyellow,olive-green,
chevrons
or
with black in the hinder
variegated
throat
yellow conspicuous
or
brown, blackish-brown,or black, usuallywith
black.
35
body and tail. The head is crossed by
bars,usually
complete,sometimes interrupted.
Adults
narrower
INDIA.
Coral
the
Snake.
Identification.
It
"
be told
may
others
of
by the
from
all
this group
fact that
tho
prefrontal shield
touches
the
3rd
sup-
ralabial (Frf. and
S,
%"" 19 B.)
Supple
meniartj
characters.
P
"
frontalstouch
ternasal,
pos
r
m
-
the int
e
r
io
r
nasal,3rd supralabial,
eye,
supraocular and
frontal.
1
I'emporal
touching
5th,
6th
suprala
_;^'
and
b i
sometimes
tho
7th
1
a
s
the
(and
4th
7.
also).Supralahials
Anterior
touch
the
sublinguals
1st, the
3rd and the 4th infra-
labials.Posterior snhFiG.
infralabial.
19.
"
Callophis bibroni
^
The
Infralahials.
"
(X
^
3).
4th is the
,.
,
i
Iwguals touch
xi
";i
the 4tl)
and
largestof the series,
touches 3 scales behind.
A
"
Scales
are
OF
INDIA.
in whole
13
body, Anal
entire.
throughout.
Siibcaudals divided
Distribution.
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
36
rare
recorded onlyfrom the
species
Western
Ghats
of India.
Poison.
Nothing known.
"
Dimensions.
Grows
"
to 2 feet and
Boulenger says
Colour.
"
above, red beneath, with
continuous
the
across
*
:
black
Cherry-red to
transverse
bauds
dark
purplishbrown
which
are
sometimes
belly; anterior part of head black above.'*
MACCLELLAITSZ"
CALL0F5IS
"
over.
Macclelland's
Coral
Snalce.
Identification,
"
others of the
From
it
group
be
can
distinguishedby
the
following 3
ing;
characters co-exist:
"
The
anal
shield divided
fig.9 E)
bials7
(asin
suprala-
;
; and
a
single
temporal touching
only the
6th
5th
and
supralabials.
{Seefig.20 B.)
Suplem ent
characters.
ary
Proe-
"
touch
frontals
the
internasal,
posterior
nasal, praeocular,
supraocular,froutal.
ing
Temporal 1 touchthe 5th and
6th
pralabials
supralabials.Su7.
terior
An-
sublinguals
touch 4 infralabials.
p^^^
"
CaS,
20.-Callophis macclellandi
Vol. Ill,p. 399.
Snakes, Brit. INIus.,
(X3).
THE
POISONOUS
touch
sublinguals
Posterior
Anal
body.
Common
in the Khasi
Poison.
Nothing
"
Dimensions.
There
Colour.
"
China
to Southern
known.
7^-inches.
distinct colour varieties.
three very
are
feet
with
"
bands
the
on
body
and
with
distinctly
buff
3
the
completelysurround
narrow,
to 4
Burma
from
Evans
by
a
specimen
from
China
Southern
had
"
from
streak
a
It is
recorded
the
It extends
into
with 23
32 black
to
the
spine. Otherwise
the Eastern
the
over
this
variety
Himalayas. (Nepal and
of Darjeeling.)
vicinity
has
VarietyC, gorei."Vax?,
with
is cherry-redabove
of these
Some
seen
in the
new
colour
other
obtained
Naga
Hills.
A
specimen
the
Western
the
name
having
at
I
a
broad
black
I
have
Just
seen
than
at the
continuous
band
a
the
stripe.
spots.
middle
those
foot of
colour
of the
no
this
I attach to it. Both
name
locality
distinct
than
latelytwo specimensof
\n
having
iinivirgatns
along
vertebral
spots, smaller
received
this
no
long. Bellypale yellow with
ventral
from
and
small, black, vertebral
C. Gore whose
It also constitutes
It differs ivova
bands
30
about
Jeypore (Assam)
Himalayas.
n/^Wwnier.
Mr.
black
black
forms.
two
varietyfrom
were
no
rather broader
are
median,
irregularly-shaped,
*
been
in midbody
incompleteespecially
are
is like the last. It is known
It
less
or
specimen from
a
brown
Cherry-red,or
down
the
more
are
Formosa.
and
black
Shillong. It has
the British Museum.
runs
A
spine.
bands
specimenfrom Mogok, Ruby mines, and
is in
Pegu
of which
bands, many
26
to
each band.
between
myselfwho obtained
a
nniviraatiis.
VarietyB,
outlined
are
occurs
Hills about
and
I have
Pegu Yomas.
16
yellow. The belly is sulphuryellow,and
or
in the Khasi
common
from
the tail. These
on
bellyand
blotch
largeblack irregularly-shaped
very
Formosa.
and
Shillong.
Hills about
VarietyA, forma typica. Cherry-redabove
black
throughout.
divided
specimenis 2
My largest
"
Scales 13
Himalayas (Kasauli,*Nepal and
the
Bnrmah
and
"
2 scales behind.
Subcaudals
Distribution."Ro.nges from
Sikkim) through Assam,
The
only. Infralahials.
the 4th infralabial
divided.
37
INDIA.
OF
largestof the series,and touches
4th is the
in whole
SNAKES
is
an
the
outlier from
first
recorded
variety for which
trace
belly.
of black
the
from
I propose
rings, and in
38
THE
In
white hand
black hus
Diflers
Identification.
"
characters.
following
there
are
6
is black
INDIA.
with
a
rather brown
a
TBI^ACULATT7S-Tlie
CALLOFEIS
2
OF
well
very
defined,
the head.
across
variety(joreithe
In
SNAKES
varieties the head
all three
enamel
POISONOUS
from
The
tinge.
Slender
Coral
others of this group
in
shield is divided
anal
Snake.
combiningthe
{seefig.9 E) and
supralabials.
ter.^,
Supplementarycharactouch
Proefrontals
"
the
internasal,posterior
nasal, praeoctilar,
ocular,
supraand frontal.
touching the
1,
6th
5th and
supralabials.
Anterior
6.
Supralabials
touch
sublinguals
labials.
poral
Tem-
4 infra-
Posterior
guals
sublin-
touch the 4th infralabial.
Infralabials.The
"
is the
4th
largestof
and touches
seri^^s,
in
rovv's
2 scales
Scales
behind.
the
in
w^hole
13
body.
Ina^ divided. Siibcaudals
.
divided
throughout.
An
Distribution.
"
2i.-Caiiophis trimacuiatus
FiB.
from
(
X
c).
Coylon =^ S, India,Deccan, Kanara, Bengal,and Burmah.
Poison^
Nothing known.
"
Grows
J)ime7isiims."0i: very slender form.
Colour."
two
*
recorded
snake
common
un-
black
Lightyellowish-brown.Head
rings. Bellycoral pink.
I examined
baiitota.
one
in the Colombo
Museum
from
and
to
13 inches.
neck
Tisf amaharana
black.
Tail with
20 miles N. E. of Ham-
POISONOUS
THE
40
ITiaEESOENS-Tho
SEMZBTTNaAETTS
Like
Identification.
"
the hist
in that the anal shield is
7th
and
OF
SNAKES
Common
INDIA..
Indian
Csral Snabe.
this group,
this differs from others of
and the temporaltouches the 5th, Cth
divided,
it.
Its habitat will distinguish
supralabials.
SupplementarTj
characters.
PrcB-
"
frontalstouch the
internasal,
terior
pos-
nasal,prte-
-Al
ocul;ir,su])raocular
and
frontal.
raiahials
Supterior
An-
7.
sublinguals
touch
infra-
4
labials.
:z'o
Posterior
sublingualstouch
the ith iufralabial.
Infralalials.The
"
is the
4th
the
of
and
series,
touches
2 scales
behind.
13
largest
Scales in
in whole of
rows
body. Anal
ed
divid-
Subcaudals d i-
.
vided
throughout.
Distribution.
"
11
is a hillspecies
confined
to
of
the Hills
Western
from
Wynad
Travancore
Fic.
23.
"
Hemibungarics nigrescenB (X 3).
m"r
and
Anamallays.
Poison.
"
Also from
Nothins
Dimensions,
"
It
the
Ganjam Hills,
known.
grows
to 4 i'eet.
India,
the
to
includ-
Niloriris
THE
Colour,
POISONOUS
Head
"
streak.
neck
and
SNAKES
black except for
INDIA.
series of spots which in
longitudinal
and form lines. Belly uniform
red.
GROUP
Identifij^at'On.
4." THE
yellowishobliqueoccipital
a
between
A
(2)
the
ccmspicuous
openingzn
nostril
the fa^t that many
attain formidable
to be fount
that death isan
by that
this
in scientific and
condition
and
locally
in
lasting
some
scales
in the
of this group,
members
one
difficulty
frame
can
so
of real
feet.
a
examined
the BriHsh
which
peculiarities
to
hillyregions
very
nearly allied
great inconstancy
that it is with the
are
and
Museum,
most
at
characters of the
The
classification of
so
swollen
completerecovery.
reallypracticalkey
lucid and
in
all the spuciinens
critically
allusion to those
to
on
much
species.I have, however,
various
to me
passes
the
which
with letters on
me
constitutional disturbance
to
largelybased,are sul"ject
is so
ophidianforms
degreeof
1,5"'0to 10,000
upon
showing
in
experience,
supported
own
confined
nearlyall exclusively
are
ranging between
shields,and
journalsconcur
foregoing. A painfuland
very variable
a
with remarkably
of bites inflictedby
have favoured
instances for weeks
snakes
altitudes
pit)
subfamily(Crotalinae)
endowed
are
My
event.
the
entirelyconfirms
subject,
These
Ureal
subfamilyof vipers.
accounts
other
who
fri^^uls,
of my
all
numorous
exceedinglyrare
of many
almost
"nd
proportions,
this
of
membars
large poison fangs, the
them
{the
B).
This very disrinctive character is peculiar
to this
spiteof
or
PIT-VIPERS.
e"/e and
the
3
confluent,
specimens are
some
Tail round.
(1)
"
of the face
{seeFig. U
In
41
or
Dorsally
red, with
pur["l:sli-brown,
reddish-brown,
5
the side
OF
greatest
the
identify
to
re-examined
and
have
constant, and
most
only made
which
seem
in identiHcation.
use
practical
Key for indeniificafionof Pit' Vipers.
HEAD
WITH
LARGF
Scales miiboly
Scales
midbody
in 17
(a) Supraocular
than
as
or
23
rows
24
to
7)
{seet'ig.
27).
...
rows
as
parietals
midbody
^^
Anchtrodon
than
or
14
rows...
hyptiale.
frontal,shorter
.,
in 15
hinalayanus.
frontal, longer
parietals
Scales
Ancistrodon
"
broad
(6) Supraocularbroader
than
(*eeFi^s
SHIELDS
in 21
Lachesis
inillardi.
macrolepis.
THE
POISONOUS
WITH
SMALL
42
COVERED
HEA.D
sdpralaeial
{see Fig. 28).
(seeS, Fig. 26).
distinct
SUPRALABIAL
loreal
feom
Lachem
WITH
PART
UPPER
INDIA.
OF
(seeFig, 28)
PIT
2nd
SCALES
UNDIVIDED
UPRAOCULARS
2nd
SNAKES
IN
FURROW
A
INTO
DIRECTED
strigaius
ITS
PIT
LOREAL
(geeFig. 27).
MANY
SUBOCOLAR
SMALL
SCALES
motUicola.
("ee Fig. 29).
ELOXGATE
AN
SUBOCULAR
SHIELD
(seeSo, Fig. 26).
SCALES
21
Nasal
and
or
POSTERIOR
IN
19
or
[see Fig. 7).
BODY
supralabial partially
1st
completely
Scales
(see Fig. SO).
united
29
midbodij
in
(see
rows
cantoris,
Fig. 7)
27
"
Nasal
23
to
and
supralabial
1st
purpureomacvlatus.
rows.
"
"
distinct
(seeFig. 33)
SCALES
OR
17
lo
IN
BODY
POSTERIOR
Fig. 7.)
(see
or
8
9 to
12
Supralabials 7
touching
3rd
(seeFig. 33)
(seeFig.
Fig. 35)
,,
"
1)
(seeSo, Fig.
"
EIMALA7A17T7S-T]ic
Tho top of
Identification.
"
and
the scales in the middle
These combined
vipers,and
anamallensis.
I think the
if the
of the
head
"
are
is
ho
Poison.
of
was
a
"
In
spite of
some
enlarged,
rows.
the other
short
pit-
of dissolution,
generallyclearly
recognized.
includingthe
Himalayan region,
5,000
and
10,000 feet,
to
is
localities (LiddaValley,Kashmir).
its abundance
bite inflicted
by
wounded
tryingto capture
in
Viper.
in 21 to 23
from
badly mutilated
Khasi Hills of Assam, at altitudes between
in
arranged
this
distipguish
It is confined to the
common
exceedingly
Himalayaa
has the shields in front
hody
enlargedhead shiolJs will
Distribution.
"
Common
the head
characters will
even
trigonocephalus.
...
36)
AXTCISTBODOIT
gramineus.
supralabial (see So,
not
"
3
jerdoni.
{see S, Fig. 35.)
DIVIDED
SUPRAOCULARS
Subocular
mucrosquamatus.
this species.
I
only know
A collector of Mr.
one
near
one
authentic record
P. W.
Mussoorio.
Mackinnon's
THE
POISONOUS
SNAKES
OF
It struck at
him, and scratched his thumb,
constitutional,
supervened.
INDIA.
but
43
local oi
ill-effects,
no
4
ififf-
R
Fig. 24.
"
Dimensions.
lengthis about
Colour.
"
in
form
Ancistrodoa
"
of various
lightspecimens, but
a
Its
inches.
usual adult
hues,sometimes
more
nearlyuniform, especially
often mottled
or
so
variegated
as
to
pattern. Belly peppered
nondescriptcarpet-like
blackish and red,on
whitish
a
Like
Identification.
"
head,but
ground.
SYPITALE-Tlie
AXTOZSTHODOIT
front of the
feet 10
2 feet.
Brovpn
bars,or
himalayanns (X 2).
Boulenger gives 2
the last this
differsin the
Ei;imp-2iosed Viper.
specieshas largeshields
scales,
numbering
J
on
the
7, in the middle
THE
44
of the
POISONOUS
body,and both
the centres
The
lengthof
The
boss
INDIA.
these characters will usuallybe detected
The frontal shield
badlymutilated specimen.
a
OF
SNAKES
of the
is
eyes
subequalto
line
the breadth
ing
connect-
of the supraoculars.
throe-fuurth? to four-fifths the
from
are
supraoculars
alonga
in
even
Subcaudals 24 to 37.
parietals.Venlrals 116 to 131.
and
the snout is much higherIhnn in the next
is
species,
the
on
covered with smaller and
more
scalt;s(8 to
numerous
fo
12).
j"
^rti'^l
^^
C
Fi6. 25." Ancistrodon
Distribution.
from
a
"
The Hills of
3,000 to 6,000 feet and
very
common
(Hakgalla).
snake
in
hypnale (X 3).
Ceylon.
is not
some
It
uncommon
of
the
at
occurs
in
altitudes
many
varying
parts.
hilly districts
in
It
is
Ceylon
THE
Poison.
POISONOUS
Writers
"
emphaticallythat
says
lapseof
after
recover
snake
same
small animals
Drummond
she
I
and be
bitten
recovered
unable
am
day
to
her
he
the
self-related facts of
The
seat of
Dimensions
her the
saw
at
but
variegated,
side
of the
Pain
was
by
a
who
so
cooly
in
once
slightest
treated
not
or
unconscious
acute
mentions
bitten
to
as
days,but
3
or
was
knee, cross
I have
inches,but
18
to
is
on
Mr.
virulent.
the
the
by
one.
prevent
he recovered
locallywith
cuts
of brandy.
acid,and strong potations
known
females adult
pregnancy.
series
longitudinal
back
was
for 2
tie
prevailingcolour
a
by
one
effects
day. FergusonJ
Mr. A. F. Stinderson
a
carbolic
Grows
The
"
bitten
both
bite,
of
cases
the next
by
above
by ligature
11| inches,as shown
Colour.
very
by
nightwould die,but with the
same
swelled to the knee
limb
"
of two
Ihe littletoe.
injurywas
of
application
poisonis not
me
bitten
days. These
4
alter
not
and then not
fowl
a
but \^hether she
fright,
aid of stimulants had recovered
the
hours, but
48
dog
a
but
occur,
The other bitten in the hand became
thoughtwhen
treated himself
question. Tennent*
the ankle did not suffer in
from
He
45
sometimes
knew
Davy
that the
written
on
to say.
sleep,and the
this
upon
succumbed
to show
serve
One
had
sym])toms in
Hay has
women.
Dr.
days.
the next
INDIA.
fatal to man,
says it is exceptionally
some
severe
OF
fatal issue does
a
invariably.Guntherf
before the
consistent
not
are
SNAKES
is
of
brown, variouslymottled
oval
largish
characteristic.
constant
dark
The
spots on
or
each
belly is finely
mottled.
MILLAEDI"-Millard's
ANOISTRODON
Shield?
Identification.
"
Viper.
the top of the head
on
enlarged,scales
at
decidedlybroader than the frontal,and
midbody 17, supraoculars
as
long or longer than the parietals.Ventrals ],H6 to 152. Subcaudals
as
in the
30
to
44.
and
last,
boss
The
is covered
*
Nat. Hist
t Pept.
J
Bom
with
of
the
on
snout
largerand
is not
fewer
so
pronounced
scales (4 to 6).
Ceylon, p. 2ii6.
Brit. Ind., p. 395.
Nat.
" Described
Hist,
Vol. X
.lonrn.,
in the Bom.
.
Nat. Hist.
p. 9.
Journal, Vol. XVIII, page 792,
THE
46
Distribution.
"
the West
The 5
specimensI have
Coast and f astle Beck
on
Specimens in the British Museum
Western
India
(Belgaum
of the ventrals and
OF
SNAKES
POISONOUS
and
are
seen
top
from
Ancistrodon
from
to agree.
millardi
Carwar
of the Western
Ceylon and
judgingfrom
Anamallays),
subcaudals,
appear
Fig. 26.
the
INDIA.
(X S)
-
on
Ghats.
the HiJls of
the numbers
48
THE
POISONOUS
LA.CB:E31S
OF
ST"tIGATU'S-Tiio
This
Tilentfjicatiim."
shield is
SNAKES
is the
entirelydistinct
INDIA.
Horse-slioo
Vipor.
which
only speciesin
2nd
tho
labinl
the
from
loreal pit(x^^Fig.27),and this alone
will suffice to establish irs identity.
Supplementary
ternasals.
No
"
cliiractrrs.
scales
In-
"
ently
suffici-
are
enlarged to deserve the
name.
Supraoc'itarA singleshield.
"
iYasuZ.
one
Not
"
or
furrow.d
-VT
i
JNot
the
forming the
inner
pit. Suhocular
,1
r.
the
ASm/tf5."Anterior
;
"
28
Fig.
touching
23)
it
are
and
loreal
^"
J
scales
between
shield
of the
to 1st labial
minute
more
intercalated
wall
united
Srd
1
1
strigatus
Lacbesis
"
.
labial.
(nat. size).
usually21 (rarelyID); midbody usually21 (rarely
posteriorusually15 (rarely17).
The
Distinbution.
"
Shevaroy,
3,000
mund,
1
an
Pulney
8,000
to
feet.
Jerdon
and
Nilgirls;
Western
but.
Hills
Gray
nut
as
Ghats
the
and
India, at altitudes
Southern
of
mentions
it
the wooded
parts
in
judging frcm the paucityof specin.ens
the written testimony if
it appears
frier.ds,
to
nie
of
the
and
museums,
snake
unccmmon
an
from
Ootuca-
ab(.ut
ccn.nion
as
in
uncommon
Nilgiri,Anamallay,
everywhere.
Poison.
"
Jerdon*
mentions
being bitten by
followed by suction,warded
applied,
otF any
round
or
the bite blackened in
off in his mouth
Dimensions.
Grows
"
"
coarse
irregular
the nape.
mottled
minute
A
speedily
ligature
but
ill-efFeds,
the
and
two, detached itself,
skin
came
during suction.
Coloxir. The
on
a
one.
to
\\
feet.
colour
prevailing
is
brown,
variegation.A palebuff
A
or
dark streak behind the eye.
with darker
mottled
darker
horse-shoe
yellowish
Beneath
hues.
Joaraal
Asiatic
to form
Soc.,Bangal, Vol. XXtl.,
p, h'lb.
an
mark
lightcoloured
THE
POISONOUS
LACHESIS
SNAKES
OF
MONTICOLA-Tlie
This
Identification.
"
is the
49
INDIA.
ViP:r.
Large-spotted
only speciesthat
has
this character
and
shield,
subocular
no
will
to
serve
diagnoseit.
characters.
Supplementary
Intemasals.
by
from
A
"
no
with
united
scales
minute
absent
Subocular
1st
calated
inter-
the
it and
between
labial.
praocular.
Su-
single shield.
A
Nasal. ~^ot
labial ;
pair, separated
1 to 3 small scales.
"
"
2nd
'2,7ui
;
-'tz?
the
forming
and
half,
in its upper
labialfurrowed
wall
inner
of
the loreal pit. /Sca/e5."Anterior
Fig. 29.
"
body
23
Lachesis
(rarely21
ni,trtbuti"m."
I.M.S.,
as
of
I
Yunnan.
and
the
"Among
8,0CO feet)
Colonel Waddell,
to
region (from 2,000
Burmah
Assam,
in Bhotan.
comman
mid-
(rarely25) ;
usually 2o
19 (rarely
21).
posterior
;
Uimahynn
his book
in
(nat. size).
25)
or
The
includingHills
it
monticola
it
found
mentions
Himalayas" (p. 240)
in
common
the
Hills
Khasi
(Shillong).
Stoliczka*
PoMon."
about
him
14^
inches in
brandy,and
mentions
length.
probablynot poisoned.
which
measured
dorsal
aspectof
him
two
hours
the wound
was
1
him
made
was
9
inches.
The
by
a
small
and
vigorously,
Though bitten he
suck
noticed.
were
bitten
snake-catcher of mine
A
foot
coolywho
wound
bitten
was
gave
was
by
inflictedon
was
one
one
the
phalanx of his rightmiddle finger. I saw
after the accident. He was
complainingof much pain,
swellingof the hand,
stilloozing,and there was much
the second
extending
forearm, and
arm,
He
without
recovered
He
ill-effects
no
a
even
any constitutionalsymptoms,
exceptinga serious hfemorrhage which
while he was
This began from the wound
*
Journal
Asiatic Soc,
the
to the loose tissues below
occurred
nervous
the
or
otherwise,
day afterwards.
asleepat mid-day,and
Bengal, Vol. XXXiX,
axilla.
p. 224.
when
THE
50
I
him
saw
and
stillbleedingprofusely. He
was
99" in
spiteof the
to have
poisonseemed
blood.
naked
It
been
fullya pint and-a-half,
had
never
The
effects.
temperatureabove
a
virulence
entire
the
altering
spent on
of
least when
the
caused
the wound
the
of the
constitution
clot,and the profoundalteration
which
coagulability
days at
INDIA.
noted that,thoughit appeared nonnal
specially
was
eye, itdid not
of reduced
four
local
severe
OF
had bled
later he
20 minutes
some
SNAKES
POISONOUS
to
the
direction
in the
hsemorrhage was
for
seen
began oozingagain after suspension
of internal remedies.
His treatment
consisted
of
carried out
ineffectualligature
and
freely,
rubbed
in
calcium,adrenalin chloride
the
day
after
next
day.
by
'
a
doctor baboo
and
ergot. He
had
hemorrhage, but
"
He
swollen.
him
four
scratched
been
Dimensions.
Colour.
or
"
bordered
had
Grows
"
hues
dark
brown
obscurelyspottedor
or
he
me
buff with
hospitalon
the third
slightoozing againthe
of these
both
were
was
said
snakes, and
adults.
tissues
quitewell,
below.
back,
Crown
and
a
dark
His
were
right
little
a
I
had
and
saw
not
mottling
coarse
brown
with
uniform
Belly yellowish,
buff
a
in
front,
behind.
OAITTOEIS-
Cantor's
Most easily
identified by the
Identification.
"
of the
chloride of
were
squarish
patches
largeirregularly
the
of
flanks.
mottled
L^CBESIS
middle
the onset
to 3 feet.
the
in
wound
pain,and betrayedno fear,and
told
the middle
on
two
some
appliedgingerlocally.
Lightbrown
spotsof black
of these two
V
no
days later,when he
He
the
incised
by the fang, and the
complainedof
suffered much.
left
some
broughtme
coolyin Shillong
he had justbeen bitten by one.
They
had
injuryI
and
in the bazar
administered
remedies
Another
ankle
"
permanganateof potashcrystals.After
internal
the
haemorrhage,
of
perfunctorycauterisation
very
hours after the
Two
time after the bite.
a
body numbering 29,
ViPor.
rows
of
scales
in
the
THE
POISONOUS
SNAKES
characters.
Supplementary
"
small
sciile.
INDIA.
OF
Internasals.
"
with
united
1st
labial ;
minute
no
pair separatedby
A
k singleshield.
Supraocular,"
51
Nasal
or
partially
one
pletely
com-
scales intercalated between
-2-71^-
Lachesis
FlG, 30."
confluence
Note
it and
loreal pit. Scales.
"
in
"
the insular
touchingthe
Peculiar to the Andaman
"
long,and
to -^ feet
groups
on
above
they (thenatives)did
There
are
not
and
Srd
labial. 'Ind
both
mentioned,
he and
where
from
of the
Nicobar Islands.
the small size of the
extremelyabundant, elicited information
Colour."
supralabial(1).
half,and forming the inner wall
21.
Anterior,27 ; midbody, 29 ; posterior,
S tollczka remarks
specimenso
1st
in its upper
labial furrowed
Poison.
(N) and
labial. Suhocular not
the 2nd
Distribution.
of nasal
cantoris (nat. size).
poisongland even
Dr. Rink
they
found
the natives
who
visited
this snake
showino- that
regardthe bite as fatal.
two
the
va^-ieties,
one
bright green
or
dull
in five longitudinal
often arrangedalternately
greenishwith dark spots,
dark brown, spotted with pale greenish.
series ; the other light,
or
and the head
along the flanks,
Usuallya well-defined white line runs
has frequently
Bellywhitish or greenish,uniform
a palelateralstreak.
or
mottled.
52
THE
POISONOUS
LACHESIS
SNAKICS
OF
INDIA
FURFUREOliIACVLA.TU'S
The
rdentlficatiun.
nnsiil sbialJ
"
-Gray's Viper.^
loss united
or
more
and the
labiiil,
the
^
"^^'^
'
the 1st
with
scales in
of
posterior part
the
body numhering 19,
when
taken
togetherwill
this
distinguish
all
from
the rest of the group.
Suppleinentaru
Internasals.
"
A
acter's.
char-
in
pair
with
contact
another,or
one
more
usuallyseparatedby
scale.
small
one
lar.
Supraocu-
-Z?^
A
"
Aa^al.
Fig.
31."
the 1st labial ;
"
23 to z5 ;
into the ]ore;d
mid'iodyusually'^5 (larely23
the
India
West, Assam,
it is
with
mat
not
alike.
plains
hillsand
Burmah,
and
Has
been
pit.-Sca/^s" Anterior,
;
19.
posterior,
probably
from
Andamans,
but
])]ains,
the
in
27}
or
the Himalayas
Dislrfbnti(tn.~Henga\,
in
with
with 3rd labial. 2nd labialwith
in contact
part directed
in its upper
furrow
Not
r
o
it and the
scales intercalated between
minute
more
labial. SuIm cidar,
2nd
a
or
one
Partially
"
completelyunited
purpureomaciilatus(nat.size)
Lachesi3
single shield.
and
is
in
and
the
Sutlej
Nicobars.
Burmah
In
in
occurs
frequentlyconfused
with L.
gramiaeiis.
Poison.
"
Stoliczka's observations
natives in the Andamans
fatal to
Colour.
;
"
"
Grows
Three
thii
As
opinionof the
that it is not
regardedas
are
with
met
:
(A)
uniform
foliage
or
purplish-brown,
purplish-black
; (C) variegated,
(B) uniform
flank lino.
*
show
Nicobars
the
to 4 feet.
varieties
purplish-brownand
obscure
regardto
man.
Dimensions.
green
and
with
Beneath
green.
uniform
Usi al y
a
well-defined white
greenish or
whitish
with
or
yellow
sometimes
mottling.
it is convenient
viper,[
ta"e
tho
to
give English
great harpatolo^i-Lsshould
be thus
to
names
libertyof callingit by
his
sn.ikes,and
mme.
raemorialised.
It
is
Gray
was
the first to describe
mee'.,too, that the work
of
oar
THE
rOliSONOUS
LACEESIS
SNAKES
OP
HUCEOSQTTAMATTJS-Tlie
53
INDIA.
Formosau
Viper.
TdentificatMn. The scales in the posterior
part of the body
"
21
19, the nasal
or
not united
the 1st labial,
and
of
the
suboGuIar
a
but
diagnosis,
number
to
presence
establish the
all three characters
co-exist.
must
characters.
Supplementary
ternasals.
from
A
"
2
pairseparatedby
Not
labial,one
with
united
or
the 1st
minute
more
intercalated
scales.
single shield.
A
"
"
small
4
to
Supraocular
Nasal
In-
between
scales
the
it and
JZh^
labial. Sul'ocular not touching
2nd
the 3rd
with
in its upper
furrow
a
directed into the loreal
to 27 ;
"
-Lachesis
(nat,
"
Anterior, 25
to
mucroBquamatas
size).
27; midbody, 23
; also
Formosa.
Nothing known.
"
Dimensions.
Grows
"
to
3^
with 3
Brownish
"
vertebral series
uniform
pit.ScaleS'
Naga Hills,Assam
Distribution.
Colour.
Fig.
part
to 21.
19
posterior,
Poison.
lahial
labial, 2nd
feet.
series
longitudinal
of blackish
beingthe largest.Bellymottled brownish
and
spots,the
white,or
whitish.
JESDONl-Jeraon's
LACHESIS
subocular
The
cation.
Id'^ntifi
"
Viper.
touchino;the 3rd labial together
with 7 to
8
make
supralabials
certain.
diagnosis
Supplementanjch
A
Tnternasals.
"
by
from
1
to
pair,separated
not
small
united
species.Nasal
with
scales may
shield
enlargedshiold
an
this
scales.
single
"
peculiarto
small
3
Supraocular A
preceded by
aracters.
1st
or
intercalated between
may
labial ;
not
it and
be
the
Fn;. 33." -Lachesis jerdoni(nat. size).
into the loreal
part dire.;tad
in its upper
usually(rarely23) ; midbody
Distribntion.
Poison.
Dimensions.
with
a
furrow
Anterior
pit. Scales.
"
21,
17 (rarely
15).
(rarely19) ; posterior
21
Khasi Hills,Assam, Thibet.
"
Nothing kown.
"
Colour.
INDIA.
the 3rd labial. 2ml labial with
touches
Suhocular
labial.
2nd
OF
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
54
Grows
"
to
2^
feet.
and
yellow. Bellymottled greenish
black.
Greea
Comoioa
A,M1NETJS-Tlie
GR
LACHESIS
black, ornamented
Head
black.
and
greenish
Variegated
"
Viper
Samljoo
or
Saate.
Scales
Identification.
"
in
of
the
a
part
posterior
body, supraocular
the
15
singleshield,suprala-
bials 9
its
in
furrowed
2ud
the
12,
to
upper
half, if co-existingwil }
serve
it.
identify
to
Supplementary
act
ers.
Iniernasals.
pair,in contact, or
two
or
one
rated
sepa-
small
J^2
Supraoculars
scales.
"
shield.
single
A
A
"
"
by
char-
Nasal
Fig, 34.
united
Sometimes
"
with
"
Lacheeis
(Varietyfrom
distinct; small scales may
it and the 2nd labial. Suhocular
sometimes
labial,
1st
between
the Hrd laoial.
2nd
labial with
the loreal pit. Scales.
"
Distribution.
"
Much
lurrow
a
Anterior,21
the most
regionprobablyas
the
Eastern
far west
Ghats, Western
It does
Peninsula
of
affects
altitude of from
occurs
an
in the
India.
as
or
the
1,500
and hillsalike.
plains
occur
to
or
may
the
may
touch
;
into
15.
posterior,
buted
widelydistri-
Malayan regionit extends
and
layan
Nicobars, to the Hima-
SutlejBiver.
in
not
partdirected
the most
Ghats, Nilgiiisand
not
ed
not be intercalat-
may
in its upper
and
plentiful
Indian
our
Ghats.)
Western
midbody, 21
;
Pit-Vipers.From
the Andamans
throughBurma, includiog
of
graminens (nat. size).
the
6,000 feet.
It is found
other
hillsin
in
the
plains of India, but
East
of Calcutta it
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
56
AITALZALLENSZS-Tlie
LACSESIS
with
co-existing
"
touching
not
Viper.
Anamallay
div'ulcMl. and
Idenlificauon.Supraocul.ir
BuboGular
INDIA.
OF
this,a
^^
the ord labial.
acters.
SupplementarycharInternasah.
"
"
pair separatedby
A
small
scale.
ocular
SupraXasal
divided.
with
united
not
labial ;
small
or
may
l)etween
the
2nd
Suhocular.
touchingthe
2nd
in
bial.
la-
Not
"
3rd labial.
with
labial,
furrow
be
not
may
and
Jst
scales
intercalated
it
a
its
a
upper
part directed into
loreal
the
3(i, -Liichesis tiuiiniallensis(nat.
Fig.
pit. Scales. Anterior,21
15 or 17.
posterior,
midbody, usually21 (rare!}'
19);
"
Distribution.
Confined
"
south of ihe Krishna
Jerdonf
"
fatal.
Mr. Henderson
bitten
by
in
one
the
Western
River, where
rangingbetween 2,000
Poison.
to
to
has
it is
Ghats
hillyregions
and
quite common,
altitudes
at
7,000 feet.*
known
several
has informed
the
bize^.
letter how
by
me
The
forefinger.
bite,but
of
cases
snake
was
he
half
proved
none
was
once
He
grown.
sucked
the wound, and cauterised it at once, and "suffered
little
very
discomfort."
For some
time
afterwards
he experienceda sense
ot
weightin this arm
Baron
Von
he
know
He
After
away,
*
The
Vol. LX
a
Rosenbergwas
and
bitten,
was
then
when
found
it
held
was
bitten
walked
the member
nightof pain and fever,a
and
it
was
specimen from
) is in my
several
Cnttack
by this snake
10
so
Fergusont
down.
in the foot.
miles before
swollen he had
cupful of
days before he
(Ko. 4122 in the
Indian
blood
could
Museum,
to
Nat. Hist.
cut
anil
wear
did not
the boot ofi".
matter
came
anythingbut
Sclater J. A. S.
a
Bengal.,
^
t Journal, Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. XXII., p. 52o.
Bombay
He
how-
pain asserted itself.
oi)iniouL. gnimhieus.
X Journal,
relates
Soc, Vol. X., p. H.
POISONOUS
THE
A
sli]jper.
year later the
dischargedmatter.
withered
a
from
this reptile.
Colour.
Grows
"
Boulenger
to
o^
(3) Only
ventrals when
loreal
dark
similar
the
to those
last
includes 5
coarsely
Snout
(2)
and
ofthe hody^;
of costals is visible on
row
to its back
on
crown
coverea
fig.37,
see
either side
of the
(seefig.5). (4)
No
speciesreferable
Echis carinata.
tail divided
(a) Ventrals
with
{seeSC, Fig. 9 D)
ridges(seeV, Fig.
2
mcmahoni.
Eristocophis
b7)
(b) Ventrals
ridged.
not
above
horn
(a^) No
3 chains
of
eye.
largespots, one
spine,and
1 chain
on
one
each
along
side
Vipera russelU.
...
of spots alongspine,none
lehelhia.
the sides
on
(Z/i)A
"
horn-like
the
appendage
chains
4
eye.
of
above
spots
Pseudocerades
along body
"'
virian
"
about
Madras
the Coromandel
~*~A few
harmless
The
of coslals
are
; and
Phoorsa
"'
'"'
the
Kallu
"
"
of
havoo
Horatta
the
"
Bombay
of
Presidency.
Mysore.
"
Kattu
pam," accordingto Russell,
( Jonst.
snakes
Eryx. Biphte^
rows
of Sind.
Delhi.
about
"Atai"
"
Kuppur
penkm
Tlie Sa-^r-scaled ViPer.
CAEINA.TA"
ECSIS
The
be
beneath
tail similar to those
beneath
Shields
may
"
SO., Fig. 9 B)
belly(i-ee
B,
They
to 4 genera.
:
beneath
Shields
A.
wore
Flanks
VIPERS.
the back
on
specimenis laid
identifiedas follows
Genus
bite
pit.
This group
on
a
blackish-green,
reddish-brown.
PITLESS
5"
part of the
a
hillman
a
feet.
f -/J Tail round.
Identification,"
smles
having met
Bellygreenishor yellowish.
GROUP
icith small
and
painful,
again, became
up
with blackish,
or
variegated
with buff.
tlappled
57
(thenative)attributed to
he
olive, yellowishor
says
INDIA.
OF
mentions
also
which
right arm
Greenish
"
placeswelled
Ferguson
with
Dimensions.
SNAKES
too
havf.
may
be
visible from
the
snout
included
beneath
covered
with
with
these.
[see I'ig.?").
small
In all
scale"
sfor
these,two
instance, the
or
often many
The
Fdenti/icatmi."
will admit
of
no
nuJivided
confusion
the rostraland the 1st
the
and
nostril,
INDIA.
OF
shields henejith the tail
of the
state
with others of this f^roiip.
characters.
Supplemeiitary
to
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
6ft
"
Nasal
not divided.
^Sw^raocM/a;'
Ejje. Diameter
supralabial.
is greaterthan
its distance
exceeds
"
its distance to the
edge
of the
of scales between
rows
touches
lip,2
it and
thr
supralabials.
Supralahials.The
4th is the largestof the series
the 3rd). SublinguaU
irarely,
"
touch
'6
or
4 infralabials,
and
2
small scales behind. InfralahiaU
\
(rarely
o), the 4th touching
Scales inmid-
2 scales behind.
iiodv
27
to
Ventrals
o7,
not
ridged laterally.S^ihcaudals
undivided.
During Hfe its
peculiarhabit of throwing its
body into a double coil,inflating
coil
and then rubbingone
itself,
againstthe other so as to produce
a sound
resembling
closely
will in itself proclaim
liissing,
its
identity.
D/str/hntion.
"
It
in
occurs
Ceylon and
throughouta large area of the
Peninsula from
Indian
Cape
the Ganges, but
to
Comorin
desert form
preferring
n
))eing
the North-East
buted
sandy soil,it is districhieflyin isolatedpatches
arid
an
where
common
throughout the
Trichinopoly.I
believe it does not
the Hills and the Malabar
its limits are
not
Carnatic.
Coast, South
exactlyknown
;
found it
I have
occur
if it
it is frequently
very
Jerdon
mon.
FiG.37.-Fchiscarinata(x2A).
of
in the
of Goa.
occurs
in
remarks
is
about
so
especially
narrow
To
tract between
the
Bengal
North-East
it is
it
only to the South of the Ganges. To the North-West
to
through Rajpootana,the Punjab, Sind and Baluchistan
Some
in tliese i)arts.
and
is extremely abundant
and
com-
it
scarce
extends
caucasia
Transidea
oi
THE
POISONOUS
its
prodigiousnumbers
in
the
SNAKES
furnished
was
paid
were
an
I
raised
from
tentatively
paidfor
in
the
Journal
six
piesto
2nd
days (December
8
the
altitudes
rangingup
Nicholson
shows
that of
paidin
Poison.
fatalities
much
in the
paper
Natural
Bombay
to the literature
62 fatal
1878.
which
He
that about
estimated
It is
at
of.
rewards
Echis.
an
been, expressed
regardingthe
by
that death is an
many
can
be
suppose.
many
HistoryJournalJ
treated in the Civil
cases
are
collected in the
is a most
tremely
ex-
doubt
no
that
Vidal,whose
valuable
this species,
states that be found
on
and
know
Government
be
proved to
frequentthan
tribution
con-
records
in the
Hospitalat Ra,tnagiri
20
cent, of the
per
in
scarcer
progressively
its bite, but I think there
more
were
forks
rewards.
1,225 poisonoussnakes
1873, only one
sequelto
are
which
sticks to
becomes
of JEc/iispoison. It is asserted
rare
head, 115,1)21
Government
have
Very conflicting
opinions
"
virulence
the year
per
was
Ratnagiri,in August
of Bangalore(circa
vicinity
3,000feet)upon
were
reward
I
5,000 feet. 5,700 feet is the highest
to
t
ment
Govern-
years
10th,1862). Again Candy
for
plains,and
thai
says
225,721 pboorsas
per
long
attached and catch them in thousands
inhabitant of
annas
to
with
out
go
He
Government
says -that in
(page 85)
September,the Mhars
of
the
two
*
during 6
average
Later he remarks that when
annum
same
on
59
INDIA.
by Vidal
RatnagiriDistrict (Kanura) alone
rewards
an
OF
cases
of
year
of Echis
bite
.and remarks that the poisonis slow, death occurringon
proved fatal,
an
cases
lingeredon for 20 days.
average in 4-|days,but that some
says later that the Echis
He
is a far
potentfactor
more
than any
other
of the Bombay
in swelling
the mortality
Presidency.
species
observation that
substantiates this assertion by the very significant
venomous
He
tracts the
in ^cA?5-ridden
in
districts where
compiledfrom
districts of
of
this snake
officialreturns
the
Thar
from
snake-bite,whereas
nagar
and
in
for
8
abounds,
in
dies
*
t
from
snake-bite.
In
shows
Karachi
one
man
is
rare
to
1885),
(Sind) and
in
or
Murray"
"
ReptiUaof Sind,'^p.
57.
a
table
the
for
that in the districts
Ratnagiri
5,000 dies per
annum
Bijapur,Nasik,Ahmedabsent,
only
one
man
says "this little viperis
Jonrnai,Bombay Natural History Soc, Vol, V., j*. 64.
Indian Snakes," p. 178.
"
t Vol. v., p. 64.
"
(1878
the districts of
Sholapur,where this snake
100,000
years
that
far exceeds
comparativelyscarce.
Parkar,
and
the Echis
(Kanara),where
is
Presidency,he
Bombay
Hyderabad,
snake-bite
from
mortality
60
althoughthe
very venomous;
that of a
as
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
cobra,
it is
action of its
INDIA.
OF
(juick
poison is not quite so
deaths
potent, and numerous
Dr. Inlach," 'ivil {Surgeonat
equallyas
Shikarannuallyoccur from its bite."
pur* (Sind),says,"A reference to policereturns will show that in by
death
have
serious injury and
far the greatestmajority of cases
the Kuppur
been caused by the bite of this species."
Again he avers
is without exceptionthe most
deadly poisonous snake in Sind."
Mr. Millard has informed me by letter of the case of an attendant in the
Rooms
who, in October ]90o, was
Bombay Natural HistorySociety's
to
bitten by an
Echis in the temple. He
taken off at once
was
admitted that he felt no fear,but in spiteof prompt treatment
hospital,
"
died 24: hours
In
afterwards.
Delhi, in
I
1897,
knew, and many
times
saw,
a
famous
snake-
bringhis week's bag to the ( -ivilHospitalwhere
"afais" for the Civil
he extracted the poison of cobras, kraits and
Surgeon (MajorDennys, I.M.S.) who sent it on to the (jrovernment of
he conveyed his specimens to the Deputy
India.
The poisoncollected,
Commissioner for the Government
rewards. Each head had to be chopped
off,and when later he was countingthese out for the satisfaction of an
before payment, one
Echis head fastened itselfon to his finger.
official
catcher called Kalian
The
have been very
must
poison under the circumstances
small,nevertheless most alarmingsymptoms rapidlysupervened,and
that when
he visited the man
that nighthe
Major Dennys told me
his condition.
He, however,
expectedhe would die, so grave was
recovered.
One must not allow oneself to be misguidedby the many
records
in whicli dogs and other small animals have not succumbed
to
the bite of this snake,and infer that man
be even
less
would jtrobably
dose
of
effected.
One
we
how
fatal these
Dimensions.
Colour.
instances
numerous
the effects of bites of cobras and
succumbing to
know
find
can
Grows
"
small
of
animals
not
Russell'svipers,
though
poisonsusuallyor^.
to about
2 feet.
Various shades from
less
or
sandy to dark cedar. A more
distinct pale sinuous flank line alwayspresent. A jiale
mark on the
crown
somewhat resemblingthe imprintof a bird's foot.
form
Belly uniwhitish,or dotted with lightbrown or dark sjxits.
"
ERISTOCOFHIS
Idenlificathn. The
"
other
of
species
37 C).
(se^ fig.
*
MCMAHONI-McMalioa's
ventral
this group,
Trans,
and
of the Bomb.
shields
are
Viper.
ridgedon
this is the
Med.
and
best
either side unlike
nietnis
of
Phys. Soc, Vol. lit.,p. 80.
diagnosis
THE
POISONOUS
SNAKES
OF
INDIA.
61
Supplementari/
characters. '^upraocidar
absent, i-eplaced
by
"
small
B
Avdge
Fig.
Nasal
scales,
Eyc\
"
does
Eristocopliismcmahoui
"
touch
not
the
(nat,."ize).
rostral,nor
less than the distance between
Diameter
half the distance to
the labial
margin
; 5 or
the 1st
eye and
6
rows
siijiralabial.
nostril ; about
of small f^caJes between
4th supralahial
not enlarged. Sublinguals
supralabials.
it and
touch 3
88.
and
infralabials,
3
small
scales behind.
Tnfralahials
3, the
3rd touching;3 scalesbehind. Scales in the middle of the bodv
Ventrals
ridgedlaterally.Suhcaudals
Distribution.
where it was
Afghan
"
Very little is
discovered
Baluch
known
23
to 27.
divided.
on
by Captain McMahon
this
*
point. Baluchistan,
when
the
delimiting
and
the fringeof its distribution,
border, is pi'obably
*
Now
Sir A. H. McMahon.
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
62
it is probablyonly to be found at this
It is a desert form
Poison.
OF
INDIA.
of
corner
Indian
our
possessions.
sandy tracts.
inhabiting
Nothing is known.
"
Dimensions.
The
"
"
white
sandy brown, with
Red(iish
Colour.
about
specimenwas
largest
2 feet.
edged
dark-brown
spots
along the back.
The
Tic
"
"'
Katuka
Mosse.
rekula
"
of
The
"'
Gunnus
mandala"
"
Mwe-bwe
natives
poda
and
India,such
surrounded
**
lam
bora,"
coast?). The
Guzerat
of
District in the
told
the
the
Probablyalso
Jerdon
in
havu," and according
( Coromandel
"
Chitar
of Dantra
Fenton.
Bombay
"Korail"
Cobra
"
according to
dency
Presi-
of Sind.
"
monil
of
The
some
guese,
literallynecklace snidie" in Portulike other names
datingfrom the Portuguese occupationof
has become
as
"biscobra, its significance
obscured,and
with mystery by the native mind.
suggestedby
as
of Tamils
Bengal accordingto Fayrer.
Russell
The
of Burmah.
"
virian
Mysore. The "Bora," "Chundra
of
cliitra "
Khad
Kanardi
"'Jessur'" of
"
Bombay.
accordingto
"
of
Viper, the Saboia.
Chain
"ilandalatha
of Malabar,
amaitar,"and
*'Siah chunder
"
"
Mandali
to Ric(3 "'Kolaku
The
*'
polonga" of Ceylon.
*'
Madras.
Viper, tlxe
Russell's
ET7SSSLLI"
VIFEHA
'"
;
"
the
sublingualstouching 4 or 5 infralabials,
ring
divided,and the o series of largedorsal spotswhen occursame
specimen will establish the diagnosis.
The
fdentification.
"
subcaudals
in the
Supplementary character.^. Supraocular a singleshield.
"
touches
the 1st
the rostral and
distance of eye to nostril,and
margin in the adult ; 2 or 3 rows
4th
margin.
touching2
not
Suhcaudals
ridgedlaterally.
scales behind.
Distribution.
"
in the
Basin.
*
North
I
am
aware
for confirmation.
of scales between
Sind
Scales in
To
found
not
the
of the record
by
labial
touch
Sublinguals
4
to 33.
miiibody 27
Ventrals
divided.
India
from
Cape
the
North
of
to
Irrawady Basin
the West
to
the series.
the
it and
the
InfralabialsT) largenormally,
Ceylon. Peninsula
It is I believe
though common
from
"
2 scales behind.
5th
Ganges.
supralabial.
Eye. Diameter exceeds
is subequalto its distance to the labial
of
the largest
supralabial
5 infralabialsand
or
JSasal
it extends
Himalayas.
is
not
known
Comorin
this
to
the
River,* and
from
the
maputra
Brah-
the
throughout
Indus
It is
inhabitant of
Sclater of Piirnaih, but
chieflyan
this
solitaryrecord
Basin
I think
calls
Mr.
Bombay.
near
Henderson
Kanal
at Kodai
"'ommon
privateletter makes
the
I
have
found
Fergusonf
says
it is
Valley.
says that at
Teunentl
in the same
species
of Burmah, and
that the natives
the
crops
rewards
the
it is
"
"
it
this
of
in most
common
Province
with
quit their
to
the number
on
that
parts of
it is
'"uppers"
so
})arts
numerous
when
busy
TheobaldH remarks
the other
On
in
District
remark
same
Grows
to
Lower
in
hand, Nicholson ||shows
in
common
of S.-E.
Darjeeling.He
about
rare
it is not
says
the
on
brought
were
1,225 poisonoussnakes in the year
of
out
Berar,
has
Sind.
Upper
Mr.
and
only known
Miller
viz.,
one,
years.
many
fatal to
Indubitably
Dimensions.
family had
his
of Bangalore,
where only2
vicinity
Kurseong,4,600 feet,in
Poison.
Kulu
Travancore.
at
country
I found
and
Rangoon.
Again Murray**
me
Pulneys.
portion of the
speciesin the Tharrawaddy
the
Blanfordtt makes
at
Evans
grass shoes made
in for Government
writes
low
also remarks
Smith"
in the
it is uncommon
1873.
the
speciesthat
certain
above
and
Burmah,
in
common
the
a
protection
againstthis snake, notably at Mahlaing,
of
commonness
fairly
and Cannanore, and
Trichinopoly
at
Myo-thitin UjiperBurmali.
and
Magwe,
it is
says
regard to
south
in the
common
this
wear
a
as
with
remark
common
place.
in
privateletter
a
Tvincomalee,
Ceylon,in 1858, the Judge'shouse
Bassett
quarters, and
INDIA.
OF
Pulneys. Father Gombert, S.J.. in
same
it
with
infested
so
was
in
the
in
says it is very
Stoliczka*
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
U
man.
5h feet,but
specimensover
5 feet
are
very
exceptional.
Colour.
"
spotsalongthe
of the
same
narrower
back.
colour
white
or
as
outline.
conspicuouspink
T
Some
zone.
spotsin
the lateral
V
with
scattered
Jourl.,Asiatic Soc.
Jourl.. Bomb,
of these
ornamented
salmon
whitish with dark semilunar
*
series
longitudinal
of
large
usuallyconsist of three zones, a central
dark zone, skirted by a
the ground,a narrow
Head
or
3
These
buff
The
often confluent.
lowermost
with
Buff,or lightbrown
of
spotsin the
rows
with
are
on
spots.
Soc, Yol. X.,
t^Nat. Hist, of Ceylon, p. 296.
" Jourl., Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc, Vol. XL,
H Cat. Rept., Brit. Burm.,p. 04.
series
marks,and a
the snout.
Belly
largedark
its apex
still
often broken at their
Bengal, Vol. XXXIX.,
Nat, Hist.
median
one
p. 226.
p. 8.
p. 546.
IIInd. Snakes, p. 173.
*"
The Rept. of Sind, p. 66.
tt Jonrl.,Asiatic Soc. of Bengal, Vol. XXXIX.,
p. 374.
THE
POISONOUS
VIPESA
LEBETINA
Identification.The
"
divided
suboaudals
the sides
so
;
from
the
and
Nasal
up into small shields.
Eye."Biameter
half its distance from
the
absence
Levantine
the
of
155
INDIA.
or
Viper.
5
infralabials; the
large lateral spots on
will
occurringtogether,
suffice to
the rest of the group.
characters.
Supplementary
it and
-Tlie
last when
Fie. 46.
bial.
OF
sublinguals
touching 4
typicalof the
this
identify
SNAKES
about
"
"
Vipera lebetina (nat.size).
Supraocularwell developedor
touches the rostral and the 1st
equalsits
the labial
distance
margin ; 2
or
3
rows
to the
broken
suprala-
about
nostril,
of scales between
the
Ath supralabial
largestof
supralabials.
the
series.
touch
Sublinguals
5
4
body
Europe, it
Baluchistan
Poison.
extends
Dimensions.
brown
"
Grows
"
undulous
Grey
pale
ov
spots,and
vertical
surface of
the head, and
dark blotch
All the
or
"
of the
and
thus
the
to
include
or
dark
very
Malik, Snjah,
within
our
;
The
accuratelyas
the
the
occiput,
may
whitish
large
into
an
lateral
upper
be present
mouth
; and
beneath, powdered
brown
spots; end of tail
indistinct(Boulenger).
The
profileview
on
angleof the
Sorned
Fersian
the horn
persicus (nat. size),from
may
apecimen
a
not
is
over
Viper.
the eye.
specimen in the
show
tbe
detail
damaged.
Persia,has been recorded by Dr. Annaadale
p. 211)
(Jourul., Asiat. Soc, Bengal, Vol. LXXIII,
snake, previonsly only known
occurs
the eye
without
Mnseum.
Baluchistan
series of
be confluent
the
on
by
easily
recognised
scales
dorsal
a
small dark
eross-bars,
to the
eye
bar below
I'seuciocerastes
Indian
Koh
with
V-shaped one
FEESICTTS*"
"
from
as
large V-shaped marking
markingssometimes
Most
Ulentification.
This
a
a
FSBTJDOCEEASTES
Fi(i. 41.
above,
with blackish wiiich may
bars ;
grey-brown,with
yellow.
*
brown
dark streak behind
usuallya
with
so
its distribution.
fringeof
with small dark spots or
band, or
a
eastwards
Minor
divided.
5 feet.
to
spots,often edged
;
Scales in middle
Nothing known.
"
Colour.
the
on
"
Africa and South-Eastern
of Northern
through Asia
Kashmir
and
Infralahials.
ridgedlaterally.Suhcaudals
not
inhabitant
An
"
scales behind.
touching2
Ventrah
23 to 27.
Pistribution.
5th
INDIA!
OF
2 scalesbehind.
and
5 infralabials
or
largenormally,the
of
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
66
Hritish Indian
from
limits.
POISONOUS
THE
Supplementary characters.
horn-like
in
touch
"
4 infralabials. Infralabials
4.
Ventrals not
ridged.
Suhcandals
Distribution, Persia and
"
Poison,
"
'"
"
Grows
"
a
1st labial.
nor
Scales
midbody
in
A
correctly
Siiblinyuals
23
25.
to
Baluchistan.
on
3 feet.
brownish
median
dark streak
the gape ; whitish
of dark
scales.
divided.
to about
Greyishor
dark spots,the two
;
small
Nothing known.
Dimensions.
Colour,
67
Eyebrow (not shown
touchingthe rostral
not
INDIA.
OF
Supraoctdarsmany,
the back of the
appendage at
figure).Nasal
SNAKES
with
above,
sometimes
series of
and
forming
confluent
each side of the head
beneath,dotted
four
with
from
the
dark, and
with
eye
a
large
bars
cross-
behind
to
lateral series
spots." (Boulenger.)
Prajl^^
Fea's
FE^"
AZEMIOFS
^^^
ViPer.
(1)scales in midbody
Identification.
of
17 {seefig.7). (2) 6 supralabials
"
which
the
only touches
the
differentiate this from
to
eye.
will
co-existing
pointswhen
These two
serve
ord
every
other snake.
Supplementarycharacters.
about
unusuallybroad,
Suh
breadth
touches
of
Frontal
the
times
Nasal
supraocular.
each
1st and
3
"
2nd
infralabials only.
present. This is the only
poisonous snake with large shields on
Loreal
the head
which
in
this shield
occurs.
Prccoculars 3. A very unusual feature.
I know
(Exceptthe pit-vipers
Fig. 42."
one
Bouien'^er).
are
other
snake
these
where
Temporals 2.
3, viz., Lytorhjnchusparadoxus).
touching one
only,viz., the 4th.
supralabial
only touchingthe
6, the
Supralabials
3rd
pair only each
contact
i""s"r26M"wn."
in the Kachin
of
Azemiops feae (after
in
One
with
eye.
behind.
2 .scales
specimenonlyknown
Hills of
Eye
Upper Burmah.
i-
only
ii
shields
The
with vertical
upper
pupil.
SuUmrmals."Om
3 only.
Infralabials
discovered
by
Mons.
Fea
Poison.
"
2
INDIA.
known.
Nothing
Dimensions.
OF
SNAKES
POISONOUS
THE
68
feet.
"
Colour.
"
small
I'emarks
Boulenger*
lighter
it
spots;
is
"
says
and
chin
like
strikingly
*
Fauna
of
Brit.
:
throat
a
Lower
parts
Ind.,
with
variegated
colubrine
harmless
Eept
Hi
a
and
olive-grey
yellow.*'
in
Bo,(ra'-hio,p.iVJ.
external
with
He
some
further
ance.
appear-
INDEX.
Pagk
BuNGARUS
FLAviCEPs.
BoNGARUS
BUNGAROiDEs.
(The Norchera
LiviDus.
Lesser Black
BuNGARUS
(The Yellow-headed Krait)
(The
(The Banded
BuNGARUS
FASCiATUS.
BUNGARUS
MAGNIMACULATUS.
BuNGARUS
MULTiciNCTUS.
BuNGARUS
NIGER.
BuNGARUS
CEYLONicui?.
BuNGARUS
c.rRULEUf^.
BuNGARUS
siNDANUS.
BuKGARUS
WALLi.
DoLLOPHis
BiviRGATUS,
DoLiOPHis
INTESTINALIS.
Naia
Nai
(The
Krait;
,.
U,
...
Krait)
];""
Krait)
Maiiv
Banded
Black
Krait)
(The Ceylou Krait
(The Common
(T)ieSiud
II
Krait)
(The Burmese
(The Greater
is
Krai L)
I'.i
1',)
Kurawala)
or
Krait)
20
20
,
Krait)
24
(Wall's Krair^
24
Coral Snake)
(The VVhite-:striped
(The Belted
27
Coral Snake)
28
(The Cobra)
tripubians.
A
Hill
14
28
(The Hamadryad
BUNGARUS.
or
King Cobra)
(Bibron'sCoral Snake)
CALLOPfflS
BiBRONi.
Callophis
MACCLELLANDi.
(Macclelland'sCoral Snake)
Callophis
tbimaculatos.
(The
Callophis
MACULiCEPS.
Hemibungarus
33
...
...
...
(The
Slender Coral
30
Snake)
3S
Coral Snake)
Small-spotted
(The
NiGRESCENS.
35
Indian Coral
Common
39
Snake)
HimalayanViper
(The Common
40
...
42
Ancistrodon
himalayanus.
Ancistrodon
HYPNALE.
(The Hump-nosed Viper)
43
Ancistrodon
millardi.
(Millard's
Viper.)
4.5
(The
Large-scaled
Viper)
Lachesis
macrolepis.
Lachesis
STRiGATUfe.
(The Horse-shoe
Lachesis
monticola.
(The Large-spotted
Viper)
Lachesis
cantoris.
Lachesis
purpureomaculatus.
Lachesis
mucrosquamatus,
Lachesis
jerdoni,
Lachesis
gramineus.
Viper)
anamallensis.
(The
Formosan
52
Viper)
...
Green
(The Green
Viperor
Bamboo
Snake)
...
Tie)
5'.;
(Russell's
Viper,the
ViPERA
lebetina.
(The Levantine
persicus.
(Fea's
57
(McMahon's Viper)
russelli.
60
Viper,the Daboia)
Viper)
(The Persian
Viper)
Chain
54
Fi5
(The AnamallayViper)
mcjiahoni.
53
53
Vipera
FB^.
50
(The Saw-scaled Viper)
carinata.
AzEMiOPS
4*.)
(Gray'sViper)
(The Common
Lachesis
Pseudocerastes
48
(Jerdon's
Viper)
trigonocephalus.
Eristocophis
47
(Cantor'sViper)
Lachesis
ECHIS
...
Horned
...
Viper)
...
...
02
05
06
t.7