1. pets
2. reptiles

UNIVERSITY
CORNELL
3
075
SNAKES
COMMON
THE
1924
OF
INDIA
BURMA
AND
AND
TO
HOW
RECOGNISE
THEM
BY
W.
H.
CAZALY,
UAJOR,
INTERNATIONAL
$
9/3, RAJPUR
B.A., M.B., B.S., D.P.H.,
I.M.S.
BOOK
ROAD,
DEHRADUN-248001
DISTRIBUTORS
(1st, FLOOR).
INDIA
LIBRARY
180
137
REPRINTED
1984
-
Published
R.
by
P.
SINGH
For
INTERNATIONAL
9
3,
Ralpur
DISTRIBUTORS
BOOK
Road,
Dchra
Dun^lndla.
COMMON
THE
5NAKES
OF
INDIA
BURMA
AND
AND
HOW
TO
RECOGNISE
THEM
BY
W.
H.
CAZALY,
B.A., M.B"
MAJOR,
I.M.S.
ALLAHABAD
TUK
PIONEER
19 j 4
PRESS
B.S.,
d.p.h.,
ERRATA.
Fag*
8,
liue
17,
14,
"
apecimeus^rtfad'
for
7,
,,
read,
pots,
sg;",t3
,,
fOQt-uota,
in
for
read
Faciolatits
Branded
rea"i"Banded.
viper
Faciolatus
Fig.
10,
in
Rarxlaiiyad.
read
common
diagram.
?nucoiut.
Fasciol"|tus,
(lamadrayad
In
read
mucomao
Faaciolatus.
reiid
note
for
bootmon
read
49
read
4.
3reen
viper.
PREFACE.
explanationand
An
scientific
of the
arrangement
So much
it is ;
sort
book
Nicholson's
Major
of
ia
book
separatingrare
and
ones,
In
far
I have
"
later
and
publication
Snakes.''
with
hard
and
work
I have
snakes
the
poisonous snakes
for
myself by
solitarymuseum
Nicholson
and
for the
ordinary
be able to
a
the
across.
that is not
often
not
are
met
commoner
There
numerous
are
need
trouble
snake
he
in
found
the
comes
in
cantonments
book,
or
far
so
I infer that
so
ordinaryperson,
and,
across
non-poisonousone
a
names
others, but
in this
not
common
English
snakes
dweller
mentioned
and
from
the
the
from
result.
ordinary
identifyeasilyany
poisonous
is the
classifying,
notes,
"
specimens
with
only
as
come
making
only simple langviage and
use
dealt
such
one
across
tell
Dr.
bought
the
possibleto identifyall
only
I
that
welcomed
on
able
not.
or
India
to
came
lot of time
a
to
I have
likelyto
snakes
to
easily,
more
and
Burma, snakes
should
1 first
"
it
deals
it takes
endeavoured
only come
rarer
who
found
book
poisonous
it is
to be
wants.
possible; and
and
tell
on, until the present little work
so
district oflioer is
the
I have
snakes
it I have
as
India
he
to
is
snake
Indian
matters
gradually simplified
I
the
originalis
is
killed,like
Poisonous
"
on
Wall's
find what
to
; all that
derived
been
the
a
Snakes,
Indian
comprehensive that
man
has
or
in
stronglywhen
so
on
But
extensive
very
lie
explanationand justification
whether
rate
any
these books
across.
so
as
at
"
Wall's
From
come
people,when
most
or
The
apology.
this desire
I had
any
information
my
discoveries
new
no
not
this
required for
facts.
for the
fact,that I think
what
made
I have
books.
other
from
have
nearly all
and
of snakes
knowledge
be
to
seem
I
since
especially,
latter
The
little book.
would
apology
an
even
by
even
this
of
means
book.
The
British
or
are
scientific
Museum
names
names
are
Snakes
in
Major
It is curious,
frequentlyheard,
by
:
the
Wall's
the
I have
way,
been
taken
from
Mr.
English names
are
Boulenger's Catalogue
Dr.
from
Nicholson's
of
book
writings.
that
unable
although
to
find
the
out
term
to
"
what
Grass
Snake
"
is
particular snake
(ifany) it refers.
I have
useless in
book.
always
found
that
coloured
identifying
specimens,so
I do
pictures of
not
snakes
were
regret their absence
practically
in this little
11
I
Major
and
Wall,
further
get
to
I
have
British
many
acknowledge
freely
Museum,
useful
My
diagrams.
advise
them,
also
my
indebtedness
who
anyone
the
especially
consulted
and
Mr.
am
the
to
wishes
to
books
Dr.
of
the
pursue
Nicholson
subject
and
little
a
latter,
Boulenger'a
indebted
Captain
to
Catalogue
H.
of
W.
Snakes
Acton,
I.M
in
the
S.,
for
hints.
thanks
are
due
to
Captain
D.
G.
Cooper,
I.M.S.,
for
drawing
the
CONTENTS.
Faob
Prefacs
i
..
..
..
CHAPTER
The
in
place
snake's
nature
.
.
from
the
as
.
four
of
groups
to
of the
.
.
to
"
spot
"
a
general
.
.
between
,
.
.
9
,
,
.
,
.
poisonous
10
VI.
and
non-poisonous snakes
47
.
.
VII.
snake
common
.
remarks
.
snakes
common
CHAPTEE
nSome
.
.
V.
CHAPTER
How
.
.
C
.
.
distinguish
.
IV.
CHAPTER
How
,
snakes
,
description
.
just described
CHAPTER
Full
.
III.
CHAPTER
The
.
2
.
typical snake
.
II.
CHAPTER
Variations
l
.
.
typical snake
of the
..
I.
CHAPTER
J)eBcription
ii
"
..
about
50
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
VIII.
snakes
.
55
,
.
.
Apfbiidix.
New
and
old
nomenclature
of the
head
shields
,
Inbbx
,
,
61
,
I
IT
CHAPTER
THE
In
order
a
statement
little
firstrealise the snake's
a
m
snake
ground
a
conveys
the various
PLACE
NATURE.
it is not
recogniseany given snake
is
This
"
to say
to
SNAKE'S
I.
snakes'
or
or
information.
no
relation to other
relations to
We
must
living
thingsand
This
another.
one
Such
snake, etc."
rat
a
sufficient
then
do
we
by
process of classification.
As
knows, livingthings are
everyone
the animal
kingdoms"
The
animal
kingdom
kingdoms, viz., animals
and
latter
sub-kingdom
the
contains
and
so
vegetablekingdom.
divided
mention
not
and
sub-
two
further.
It
lobsters,jelly-fish,
microbes,
back-boned
animals
vertebrates
or
sections,viz.,the fish-like animals,
the
and
etc),*
contains
The
and
third section
ourselves,dogs,
born
their young
the
the
into
mals
lizard-like ani-
contains
two
amphibians (thingslike frogs,
all familiar with
are
we
divided
are
first section
The
mammals.
viz.,the fishes
classes,
have
into
on.
The
three
two
(the vertebrates)
The
(the invertebrates).
need
insects, crabs
into
back-bones
with
we
the
again
back-bones
without
animals
is
kingdom
and
divided
horses
and
because
in fact all animals
it
which
suckle them.
alive and
at present. It
us
chieflyconcerns
Look
at a
and the birds.
has two classes,
viz.,the reptiles
how
and
bird's eyes
scaly legs and you will understand
The
it
to be
comes
The
which
second
the
lizard-like animals.
with
the
is
divided
is the order snakes.
animals
These
ju"tlike flebea,
*
classed
reptileclass
the lizards and
are
section
The
into
other
orders
four
three
are
the
:
one
of
tortoises,
crocodiles.
spend
the
first
part
of
their
lives
in
the
water
and
tbeti
So
now
idea
an
of
the
relation of
snakes
to
livingcreatures.
other
we
present this clearly
To
the
have
we
sub-kingdom vertebrates
Section.
Fish-like
make
may
follows
as
of
use
table
a
of
:
"
Order.
Class.
/ Fishes.
animals
(IchthyopsidaJ. \ Amphibians.
( Tortoises.
3 Snakes.
D
Reptiles
...
-^Lizards.
...
Lizard -like animals
{ Crocodiles.
(Sauropsida).
Birds.
Mammals
The
order
families
of any
snakes,like
is divided
genus
into
of
dividing
up
is rather a
subject
of long names
and
ordinaryreader as
is the
not
go
of
name
into
into families.
involves
almost
it is based
have
shall
snakes
and
one
scientific
species.The
the
use
of much
classification is not
differences in the bones
So all I
order
the
difficult
the
we
and
into genera
plantfor that matter,
by that of its species.
However, in this little book
matter
orders,is divided up into
animal, or
followed
its genus
all other
of these families is divided up
each
;
finallyeach
name
Mammals.
(Mammalia)
of
use
entirelyon
the
The
a
lot
to the
obscure
of the head.
done
is to
divide
up
the
snakes
into
easily
distinguished
groups {videChapter IV) according
to the idea suggested
by Major Wall in his book.
Wherever
its English
I have giveneach snake
possible
and
have
as
name
well,to
appended the scientific name
four
make
reference
to other
,books easy.
CHAPTER
DESCRIPTION
Let
cobra
or
us
now
dhaman
take
and
OF
an
II.
A
TYPICAL
common
ordinary,
examine
thoroughly
SNAKE.
snake, such
it.
as
a
We
will not trouble about
the skeleton consists of
latter
skull, back-bone
a
that
its inside except to note
ribs.
and
The
it is by means
of their movements
as
interesting
that the snake progresses along the ground, In the cobra
the ribs of the neck are long and lie in a line with the body,
but they can be stretched out at right angles,thus forming
are
the well known
hood.
A
but not in such
If
few
a
marked
consider the skin
we
that it grows fur
or
hair.
teristic,
possess this charac-
other snakes
of
does the cobra.
degreeas
mammal,
a
we
shall
bird's skin is clothed in feathers.
A
with scales.
a snake's skin is covered
Similarly
We
must
as
study these scales carefully
they
chief means
by which we shall recognisethe snake.
First
examine
different to those
regularand
2 and
on
the
notice
head.
Here
the
quite
body. They are large,
called shields." (Pigs.1,
the rest of the
of definite shapeand
scales
the
are
are
are
3.)
These
shields all have
them, but it will be
We
as
will consider
names,
rather
well to master
them
longnames
some
of
them.
in four groups
:
(a)on
the ci'own
(Fig.1),(6)on the upper lips(Fig.2),(c)between the crown
and the lips,
i.e.,the face (Fig.2) and (c?)
the lower jaw
on
(Fig.3).
In the middle of the crown
shield called
(Fig.1) is a single
the frontal. In front of this is a pair of shields named
the
In front of these again is another
prae-frontals.
pair"the;
inter-nasals and lastly,
there is another
singleshield called
the rostral which
littlenotch
without
forms the muzzle
in it to
the mouth
there is a
pairknown
Looking at the
at
once
enable
the
side of the head
the
snake.
to
tongue
beingopened. Behind
as the parietals.
notice the nostril and
aboat them"
of the
or
the
face
eye with
It has
a
be protruded
frontal shield
(Fig.2) we shall
shields grouped'
In front
singlewith the
shield,sometimes
tween
nostril piercing
it,but generally
double, with the nostril bethe two.
Surrounding the eye, we have the supraocular
shield above it,the prae-ocular
in front and the postis the
ocular behind
but not
it.
Sometimes
These
often.
Between
or
nasal
shields
the nasal and
kinds, e.fj the cobra
many
sub-ocular beneath
a
often double
it
triple.
are
generallyone
prse-ocular
are
the
shields called the loreal.
more
is
there
or
the loreal is absent
But
in
the krait.
and
,
Behind
the
temporals.
Forming
of shields
from
four
when
are
post-oculars
the
lipof the snake (Fig.2) are
supra-labials.
They vary in
the
five to about
is
there
shields called
more
a
upper
called
or
few
a
nine.
sub-ocular.
no
One
In the
or
more
series
number
the orbit
enter
diagramthere
are
seven
and Nos. 3 and
the orbit.*
4 enter
supra-labials
Now
looking at the under part of the head, i.e.,the
lower jaw (Fig.3) ; in front we notice a single
shield corresponding
This
to the rostral.
back
infra-labials run
is called the
either side
on
mental.
From
this the
lower
formingthe
lipsof
snake.
the
Between
the two
shields known
as
the
series
of
anterior
infra-labials
pairsof
or
posterior
sublinguals
and
two
are
chin shieldsrespectively.
Noce
that
touches
which
in
the
counting the infra-labials
is the
posteriorsublingual
diagram there are seven
Tfaie completesthe normal
helpof the diagramsit should
In the
Now
turn
the snake
over
the
last shield
Jast infra-labial.
infra-labials.
head
not
on
and
shielding
be difficult
to
to
its back
with the
understand.
and
look at its
belly(Figs.4 and 5). Here we shall see shields of a different
sort.
They are broad,transverse platesextending
rightacross
t,iutae
givuu
nua
descriptiouB
ibote
which
of
enter
snake*
which
follow
the orbit are added in
the number
of
supra-labiale is
bniokeis, e.^., "Supra-iabiaU
7
the
bellyso
back
we
shields
scales (Fig.4). These
called ventrals and
are
along the
the
the ventrals
dealino- with the snake's tail and
its
of the other
last row
the
shield of
sublingual
posterior
Beyond
body to the anus or vent.
from
extend
specimenfairlyon
the
have
only just see part of
can
we
when
that
they
the head all
this
called
now
ai-e
are
we
O
sub-caudals
(Fig.5).
shield is called the anal shield
last ventral
The
It is generally
double and
are
divided down
the centre
variable within limits,is most
in which
ways
that
see
sub-caudals,though very
important; for
it is
of the
one
differentiate snakes.
we
will put the snake
we
Lastly,
and
zigzagline.
a
of ventrals and
number
The
by
latter
The
sub-caudals.
the
are
so
(Fig.5).
the
rest
of
on
body
its
its
bellyagain(Fig.6)
is covered
small
with
scales.
arrangedin regularrows, varyingin
The
snakes from
about 13 to 25 longitudinal
rows.
all of the same
size. It is most
are
ant
importgenerally
These
most
scales
to
scales
are
of
ascertain the number
has, and
The
we
do
this
by countingthe
convenient
most
way
of scales that
rows
a
snake
transversely.
rows
to do this is to start
at the
extremityof a certain ventral and follow the line of scales
ventral.
the body to the extremityof another
rightover
Notice that the row
does not go over
exactlyat rightangles
to the body but slants considerably
(Fig.6),
The
head
equalto
The
should
rows
about
number
a
of
be
counted
quarterof
rows
is
at
a
distance
from
the
lengthof the body.
practically
alwaysodd, so that
the
there is a
singlerow down the middle of the back called the
vertebral row (Fig.6). (Don'tconfuse this with the ventral
shields.)
Besides the number
of rows
there
are
two
or
pointsto be noticed about the scales. First,are
three other
they
all of
the
size?
same
the vertebral
but some
They generally
are,
enlarged (Fig.7),notablythe
row
whether
notice
secondly,
there is
raised keel
a
We
also
may
another
one
alongthe
notice
whether
or
scales
the
they more
or
krait
and,
;
whether
or
scaJie.
merely touch
when
less overlap,
they
the
whether
smooth
are
of each
centre
snakes have
scales
said to be imbricate.
are
Now
words
few
a
about
the
shape
or
form
snakes
of
generally.
The
head
Moreover
stumpy,
and
neck
no
it may
Some
heavy
that the head
so
snakes
have
elongatedor
quite distinct from
narrow
be
body, being separatedby
the
be
be
may
sort
a
is not
of neck
; or
broad
and
the rest of
there
may
distinct.
slender bodies,others
elongated,
stout
ones.
And
in
the tail is short and
some
long,or tapering
away
into
a
stumpy, in others very
fine,minute
point.
size of the eye varies too.
Some
snakes have large
others againmoderatelysized ones,
eyes, others small and
it is
The coloured part of the eye or iris varies ; in some
The
black, in
others
shape of
the
varies
in
;
green
or
golden. When
be
pupilcannot
some
beinground,
made
it is black
but the
out
'
in others
pupilalso
vertical
a
the
or
zontal
hori-
slit.
the side of the face,but in
on
generally
of the head
the crowu
water and sea snakes they are
on
then said to be
are
superior."
Let us now
studythe teeth of snakes.
The
the
and
nostrils are
"
We
will deal first with the teeth of harmless
There
lower
are
jaw and
six rows
altogether
of teeth
"
two
snakes.
rows
in the
four in the
These
consist of a row
of
upper.
in both the upper and lower
teeth on each side of the mouth
jaws. These four rows may be called,for convenience,the
upper
and
lower
marginal
rows.
In
addition to
these,in
importantit
pointsshould
The
is often
fallacious guideso that all the other
a
be considered first.
colour resides
often coloured
in
chiefly
and
too
this
forming what is known
margins of the scales
scales themselves.
colours
justlike
shows
the
as
be
may
In fact
the
a
scales but
the
skin is
between the scales,
up
interstitial colour.
The
coloured
to
differently
the
be of several different
scale may
bird's feather may.
All
of
complicated
patternsare thus produced stripes,
dots, ringspots,
ocelli or "eyes," transverse
and
lines and
longitudinal
describe
bars,etc. Hence it is very diflScult to accurately
in words or to paint a snake's colouring.In fact coloured
of snakes are, I find,of very littleuse in identifying
pictures
snake.
unknown
Still there is generally
main
an
a
ground
colour and some
fairlydefinite sort of pattern so that,
althoughit may be diflScult to imagine a snake from its
written description,
stillwith the specimensbefore one it can
be recognised
from its description.
All the same,
generally
a
sorts
"
colour is a variable .characteristic
and should
alone to
on
VARIATIONS
THE
TYPICAL
in the
last
PROM
saw
we
SNAKE
AS
chapter
JUST
the
small scales on
comparatively
its head and ventrals on its belly.
But there
which
Turn
seen
a
we
are
have
to
the
much
lies
its back
on
are
over
several
generally
narrower
we
rows
can
on
to
transverse
belly (Figs.4
are
typical
ment
arrange-
study.
snake
typical
ventrals
DESCRIBED.
typicalsnake is
its body, shields
certain variations from this
that the ventrals
across
relied
III.
covered with
on
be
a snake.
identify
CHAPTER
As
never
and
5).
its back
of the
we
have
platesextendingright
But
in
snakes the
some
than this. So that
see
and
as
the
the whole of the last row
scaleron
ordinary
snake
and
each, side of
snakes with
(Fig.8). These are
opposedto the typicalsnake
snakes have no
Again some
the ventrals
as
the back
and
In
covered
are
another
shields
all.
ventrals at
The
belly
identical small scales.
with
of
group
ventrals.
has broad
which
ventrals,
narroxv
snakes
normal
the
again
head
covered
are
wanting and the snout and crown
with small scales just like the back of the snake
(Fig.9).
These are
snakes having scalyheads, not shielded
heads,
of these scaly-headed
Some
the
as
typicalsnake has.
small shields,e.(j.,a supra-ocular
snakes have one
more
or
or
are
the labials
nasal ; and
be
they can
with
a
at
seen
to be
once
normallyshielded
All snakes
in
snakes into
classify
the next chapter.
with
head
on
Group
The
but
from
but
;
the snake
variations
bellyenable
as
we
shall
us
see
SNAKES.
with
no
have
may
their bellies like their
ventrals.
shielded heads
backs
are
or
clothed
scales.
The
snakes
in this group
Group
II.
These
iJielast row,
each
The
"
againmay
bellyis covered
across
completely
oil
OF
Snakes
snakes in this group
scalyheads
with
"
rule
a
ly.
GROUPS
I,
and
useful groups
four very
FOUR
as
scales,but these
CHAPTER
THE
out
quitedifferent
in the different kinds of scales
to
made
head.
covered
are
be
can
and
with
;
so
are
Snakes
all harmless.
with
narrow
shielded
have
transverse
that when
scalyheads
rows,
of scales
(Fig.8).
snakes in this group
are
but
the
plateswhich do not extend
the specimen lies on
its back
several
generally
side of the ventrals
or
ventrals.
all harmless.
are
seen
10
III.
Group
Snakes
"
with
NORMALLY
In
SHIELDED
and
ventrals
HEADS.
bellyis covered with transve"'se
stretching
rightacross the body so that onlypart of
row
on
as
these
broad
of scales
can
be
seen
either side when
on
its back
(Figs.4 and 5) and
described in ChapterIII.
This group
BO
the
that
we
may
divide the group into two
Sub-Group B.
IV.
"
Snakes
with
ventrals of snakes
similar to those
crown
DESOiilPTION
The
are
ventrals
identical with
are
is covered
(Fig.9).
These
with
scales
the back of the snake.
on
In this chapter
every
snakes
broad
shields
are
CHAPTER
The
"
in this group
of the head
snakes in this group
FULL
snakes,
poisonous
viz:
sub-groups,
HEADS.
SCALT
scales instead of the normal
The
shie'ds
fall into this group.
snakes
those in the last but the
"re
normal
has
lies
Poisonous.
"
AND
The
the creature
Harmless.
"
of
majority
Group
the last
contains both harmless and
Sub-Group A.
The
head
the
shields
OF
common
arrangedin
details in this
all poisonous.
V.
THE
COMMON
snake is
SNAKES.
fullydescribed.
the four groups.
chapterneed not be studied
The chapteris meant
for reference
carefully.
chiefly
a particular
identifying
specimen.
very
when
11
GROUP
I." Snakes
The
with
blind
no
vbntrals.
snakes.
three genera and nnany
of blind snakes,but there is littleinterest in exactly
fpecies
There
two
families,
two
are
or
them.
identifying
Therefore
of
generaldescription
a
is
blind snake
a
given:
"
Small ; from
Length
"
Head
Shape
"
:
4 inches
or
difficult to
it.
distinguish
inferior with
no
Body
:
worm-like
it is
which
tail from
similar to
very
5 inches to 18 inches.
The
mouth
is
mental groove.
and
slender,cylindrical
and
thicker behind.
Tail
:
short and
very
often ends in
a
minute
spine.
Eye
:
rudimentaryand
often invisible,
being
under the shields.
shielded.
on
and imperfectly
irregularly
backwards ; and
Rostral prolonged
head
shields" The
Head
is
either side of it are -four labialsand
shields with
largish"^
several small
very difficultto make
small blind snakes.
The details are
Scales
About
"
22 ;
body and
None.
Ventrals
"
Colouring Dark.
"
"
are
The
As
all the
same
out in the
the whole
-size.
is covered
belly
a
cover
behind.
with scales.
rule, olive-green, brown
or
Bellyperhapsa littlepaler.
Found in various partsof India,but not often:
as
theyare burrowingsnakes, -rarely
seen,
above ground.
appearing
black.
Habitat
and
they are cycloid
ones
four
12
II.
GROUP
Snakes
"
INDIAN
THE
narrow
with
ventrals.
(Python molurus).
PYTHON
upwardsof iO feet.
Its size,however, is apt to be exaggerated
:
20 feet is the maximum.
probably
Shape Head : distinct from neck with a long snout.
Body : rounded and stout. Rudimentary hind
snake.
stout
Length' A large,
"
Grows
"
limbs exist
vent, and
Head
are
Tail
:
about
Eye
:
moderate
shields
"
of
one-eighth
The
head
between
there
are
Scales
About
"
Ventrals
Very
"
are
side of the
length.
pupil.
is shielded
but
mally.
quitenorshields are
rudimentary
parietal
the
frontal and the prse-frontal
not
intercalated
some
rostral and firsttwo
There
the whole
with erect
The
and
each
small spurs, one
visible.
generally
as
about 12
shields.
The
are
pitted.*
supra-labials
supra-labials.
65.
242
narrow,
caudals 60
"
to
sub262, anal entire,
72 divided.
of quadrangular
brown
Colouring Three rows
spots
bufF lines.
(onemedian)separatedby narrow
A brown spot formed by a buff or yellowmark
occupiesthe head.
"
Habitat
"
India and Burma.
(The Malayan Python is also found
RUSSELL'S
EARTH
SNAKE
in
Burma.)
t
{Eryx conicus).
less.
Length"Grovfa to 3 feet,but is generally
distinct from body. Broad
Shape Head : scarcely
"
Jhe chin has
no
snout.
mental groove.
*
In the Malayan Python (P, reticulatui)the firstfpur
upper labiaU
+ The Red Sand Saake"Ootifft/lophiscoHibut
(Nicholson)'.
"
are
pitted-
13
Body
thick rounded
: a
sometimes
limbs may
be made
out in the mate.
often less than
tapering,
specimens.
1^ inch longin large
iris partlyyellow,
Eye : small, pupil vertical,
partlyblack.
head is scaled
absent. The
shields Practicallj^
exceptfor a rostral,one or two pairsof small
and numerous
prse-frontals
supra- and infraTail
Head
hind
body. Rudimentary-
very
:
short and
"
labials.
Scales
41
"
53
"
:
small, keeled.
Tentra/s" Narrow, 168
to
186, anal
is
it
trifid,
i.e.,
large median and
17
external portions
; sub-caudals,
divided
into
"
Colour
two
a
23 ;
is
small
single.
vertebral chain formed
Grey, with an irregular
of reddish brown
rows
by dorsal coalescing
blotches. Or, dark chocolate brown dorsally
with irregular
sometimes
transverse
grey
with various sized
stripes.Laterally
grey
reddish brown blotches and spots.Belly
white
often with
or yellowish
or with reddish tinge,
small dark spots.
numerous
"
Hahitai" Common
JOHN'S
Length
"
iu Central and South
SNAKE
EARTH
{Eryx Johnii).*
to 4 feet ; tail onlyabout
Grows
India.
one-Welfthof
length.
Shape
"
Similar to
has
shields
Head
Scales
"
"
50
"
a
Russell'searth
snake, but the chin
mental groove.
Similar to Russell's earth snake.
65, much
less keeled than those of Russell's
earth snake.
*
The
Black
Sand
Souke (Nicholson).
14
Ventrals
Narrow,
"
into
189
ed
it is dividto 209, anal is trifid,
i.e.,
largermedian
portions.Sub-caudals
Colour
olive brown.
Dark
"
a
and two
small external
19"36,
single.
Generally numerous,
ill-
defined and indistinct black blotches orunsyinmetrical cross-bars and sometimes
lightreddish
pots laterally.
Habitat
Same
"
as
Russell's earth
snahe, but
it is less
common.
THE
IRIDESCENT
Length Upwards of
"
Head
Shape
"
:
Body
Tail
:
Eye
:
not
3
{Xenopeltis
unicolor).
feet,tail one-twelfth
of
length.
rounded.
distinct,
and stout.
cylindrical
short and tapering.
:
small.
Teeth
t
small but very
numerous.
Simulatingscales ; a largeprse-ocular,
loreal ; behind the triangularfrontal are
no
other similarly
shapedlargescales
shields
Head
Scales
SNAKE
EARTH
"
largeand polished.The outer row enlarged
"halfthe size of the ventrals.
to nearly
15,
"
Narrow,
Ventrals
"
20"
166
to 193,
anal bifid. Sub-caudals
-23 bifid.
Colouring Black
"
brown
or
above
with
iridescent effects ; scales with
below white
Habitat
Common
"
yellowish.
EARTH
SNAKE
Rufusj,
(Cylindrophia
Length
"
About
^
lighteredges;
in Burma.
SHORT-TAILED
THE
or
remarkable
30 inches
OF
BURMA
16
Head
shields The
"
nasals
there beingno
contiguous,
are
supra- and post-oculars
temporals. Upper labials
are
internasals. The
No
confluent.
four.
locales 17, round and polished.
"
FeniraZ.s
Colour
Yellowish ; or brown
1 1.
with numerous
usually
transverse series of small,yellowblackedgedocelli. Bellybrown with largeyellow
spots or cross-bands ; or yellowmottled or
"
blotched.
Habitat
Sub-caudals 6"
Very narrow.
to234.
193
"
These
"
above
,
small
burrowingsnakes
in the hillsof Southern
2,000 to 4,500 feet.
from
This snake
SNAKE
WATER
RUSSELL'S
common
fairly
India at a height
are
is about
the
{Cerberus
rhynchops).
commonest
and
most
typical
of the river snakes.
The river snakes live in rivers and
come
estuaries and
rarely
to land.
Length"Grows to 3
length.
Shape
"
Head
:
feet
or
more.
Tail
one-fifth of
small,not very distinctfrom neck. Cleft
of mouth
turned up behind the eye.
Body : cylindrical.
Tail : moderate,slightly
compressed.
elliptic.
Eye : small,pupilvertically
Nostrils small,placedon the top of the
and valvular. 'This
head
feature is characteristic
of the river snakes.
Head
shields The head is shielded but irregularly
(as
in allthe river snakes).,
"
The frontalmay be broken up into small shields.
17
are
alwaysmore
parietals
The
less broken up
or
into scales.
The
nasals
rostral.
largeand in contact behind the
the cleft extending
They are semi-divided,
are
upper
One, two
2nd
or
present,also
a
loreal.
three sub-oculars.
or
ten
or
1st
labial.
Small internasals are
Nine
the
the nostril to
from
divided
the posterior
labials,
upper
transversely.
keeled.
Scales 23 or 25, very strongly
ed.
Ventrals Narrow, and rounded, 132 to 160; anal divid"
"
Sub-caudals
Colour
"
49
72.
"
dark
Grey,brown, olive,
More
ash
blackish above.
or
less distinct darker
or
spots or
bars,
cross-
A black streak
posteriorly.
especially
each side of the head, passing
on
throughthe
or lessdistinctwhite or yellowish
eye. A more
lateralband.
Beneath
or
whitish
marbled
or
or
spotted
yellowish,
with dark ash
or
barred
black,or almost
black.
entirely
Habitat" Common
GROUP
in East Indian estuaries.
III.
"
Snakes
and
shielded
Sdb-Group
THE
BLUNT-HEADED
Note,"
The
a.
"
SNAKE
with
broad
ventrals
heads
Harmless.
movticola).
{Amblycephalus
whole
familyof snakes,to which, this one"
ischaracterised by the absence of a
mental groove."
belongs,
The mental groove, which exists in nearly
^11 other snakes,
is.a".
longitudinally
alongth^ chin -betw-een
gxaovfi jTunniug
chin shields {vide
the sub-linguals
or
Fig;3, a to 6.)
"
"
18
Length
About
"
Head
Shape
"
feet.
two
:
thick,large,
very distinctfrcraneck.
mouth
is no
Tail five inches.
be but
can
The
slightly
expanded. There
mental
groove.
and slender.
compressed
Body
:
Tail
:
slender
Eye
:
moderate
;
moderate
short.
or
with vertical pupil.
shields
Head
Regular.
A single
nasal.
No loreal but a largeprse-ocular.
The sublinguals
or chin shields are
unsymmetrirather large.Note
cal. There are three pairs
"
absence of mental groove.
Scales" \5, smooth.
vertebral
The
likethe
and hexagonal
enlarged
Ventrals"l
of scales is
row
krait (Fig.7).
Sub-eaudals 70"87
88 to 194 ; anal entire.
;
double.
Coldur
"
Brown
above
with
vertical blackish bars
on
the sides.
A
black line from above the eye to the nape, and
another from behind the eye to the angle of
the mouth.
Yellowish below,dotted with brown.
0a6""at"
and
Eastern
Himalayas,Assam,
Khasi
Hills.
It is not
in these
and
care
must
uncommon
Naga
localities
be taken not to mistake it for
a
krait.
ABLABES
Length" A.
CALAMARIA
small snake.
name).*
(No English
Grows
to
one-fourth of the whole
*
about 12 inches,tail
length.
Calamaria (Nicholwn),
Cficlophii
id
Head
Shape
"
:
Body :
Tail
:
Eye :
Head'shields
with
distinct,
scarcely
slender.
modecate.
in size.
moderate
Normal.
"
obtuse snout.
by the
singlelong nasal,pierced
A
nostril. The
loreal is fused
with
the
Internasals and
singleprae-ocular.
broad and short.
prae-frontals,
Upper labiala
7 (3 and 4).
nasal. A
Scales
15, smooth.
"
Ventrals"
129
to 138 ; anal bifid. Sub-caudals
50"83,
divided.
Colouring Light olive, with a reticulated pattern
formed by a black edge to each scale. This
"reticulationforms four thick lines along the
"
back,two
two
on
^ach side of the middle line ; also
thin lines on
lines. Alternate
lines (oneach
Habitat
THE
"
Ceylonand
VARIEWATED
KUKRI
each
side,i.e.,two
with
these
are
lateral
five white
side).Bellywhite.
South
of India.
SNAKE
{Oligodon
aubgriseua).
Length^lO to 18 inches.
Shape Head: short,not distinct from neck.
A small snake.
Body : sub-cylindrical.
Tail : one-seventh of body.
Eye : small ; pupilround,irisgolden.
Teeth : no palatine
teeth *
between
two
Head shjldds"i^ostril
partly confluent
nasals. One
two
or
prae-ocular
; one
postRostral
ocular.
producedbackwards. Supra*
labials7 (3 and 4).
"
*
A very
txoeptioaalohAraoteriikio.
20
Scales
15,
"
Ventrals"
rounded.
sraooth,
to
180
202;
anal
bifid. Sub-caudals
54
48"
bifid.
Browa
Colouring
"
lated
with
numerous
lines,crossed
cross
dark
narrow
by
longitudinal
three
Head
stripes
; belly white.
symmetrical" markings which
whitish
of the whole
to be
Habitat "Said
Note.
Other
"
very similar but
are
species
are
with
teristic
charac-
genus.
in the South
common
fascio-
of India.
with
generally
^ewer ventrals.
SIMOTES
AliNEN6I6
Length Grows
to 2 feet.
"
"
all other snakes,it has
Head
shields
The
internasals
and
the
rostral is
"
them.
"
Tail one-seventh.
but, like nearly
Oiigodonsabgris"us,
teeth.
palatine
Similar to
Shape
{No Englishname).
Scales
short and
are
transverse
produced backwards
Nostril lies between
two
tween
be-
nasals.
17, smooth.
"
Ventrals
160
"
to
200; anal bifid
Sub-caudals 47
"
56,
divided.
Colouring
"
Brown
very
with 20 to
30
or
more
broad black,
cross-bands.
slightly
white-edged
Belly
white.
black fillet
markingsvery "li"tinct;-a
from the throat,
throughthe eyes ; a " rising
the
point on the frontal shield, the first
cross-band forminganother " behind it.
in India and Geyloti.
Common
Head
Habitat
"
'
Simotet Rutiellii
(Nioholsou).
^1
THE
CORAL-TAIL,
Very similar to
entire. The
'(JSimotea
eruentatm).
SNAKE
Simotes arnensis.
But
the anal is sometimes
chief difference is only iu the
colouring.
vertebral stripe,
sometimes
a
; a dark
enclosing
thin lateral stripe.Bellygreenish
lighter
;a
stripe
yellow
Olive brown
with
blue-black spots ; sub-caudals
square
coral-red with
black spot at tiie root and near the tipof the tail. Punctulated head markingsoften not unlike a mask.
The
coral-red of the
tail,however, changes to yellow
after death.
Habitat"
in Burma.
Common
Ijcngth Similar
"
Scales" 19
Ventrals
"
to the two
It grows
.
(No Engliahname).*
CYCLURUS
SIMOTES
to
snakes,but larger.
preceding
2^ feet and has a stout body.
21.
or
160 to 210;
Sub-caudals
anal entire.
36
Slightventral keel.
"58, divided.
Colouring
"hight reddish brown, with three
encloses
stripes
; the vertebral stripe
median
head
line and
shields
or
COMMON
on
to the
converge
across
a
light
frontal
obliquehead
from
the
dorsal
Bellywhite
the eyes.
fawn with alternate square spots.
Hahitat-^Oommon
THE
tends
separatingtwo
markings that
Fillet
stripes.
'
e\
darker
WOLF
in Burma.
SNAKE
(Lycodonaidicua
or
Length"OriQ to two fe.et.
with fiat,longsnout.
Shape Head distinct,
"
*Slmot"i iiiattnaUii (^iohoUoB-).
atriatua.)
ti
rather flattened.
Body : slender,
Tail : tapering.
is
Eye : small,black,beady. The verticalpupil
of the black
account
on
hard to distinguish
iris.
anterior teeth
TSeih"The
both in the upper
and lower
though not
jaw are long. This characteristic,
be
can
generally
always very conspicuous,
made
tread shields"
out.
Regalar. (In aulicus
reaches
Scales
the
prse-ocular
the frontal ; in striatus it does
not.)
17, smooth.
"
Venlrals"178
to 224
; anal
divided.Sub-caudals57"77;
double.
white or
Co/oMWngf"Chocolate brown with numerous
and
-bands decussating
laterally
cross
yellowish
evident in the anterior part of the body.
most
less distinct.
In old specimensthe cross-bars are
Habitat
"
A
very
Burma.
both
snake
common
On account
in
India and
of its colour,
I suppose, it
mistaken for
is frequently
a
krait. It is small,
and bites readily,
hence kraits have got
lively
for these characteristics.
the reputation
TEINKET
J.ITTLE
THE
SNAKE
(ColuberHelena)*
tail one-fifth.
to upwardsof 3 feet,
Length~~GT0Vfs
with elongated
snout.
Distinct.
Shape Head : narrow
Body ; slender and compressed.
and thin.
Tail : moderate or tapering
Eye : moderate,pupilround with greenishiris.
Bead shields" Regular.
"
'
Helena
Ci/nophit
(Nicholson).
24
THE
DHAMAN
RAT
OR
{Zamenis muoosus).
SNAKE
Length" A largesnake,six,seven or eightfeet long,and
to
3, 4 or 5 inches in girth. Tail, one-fifth
one-third of length.
short and
rather
Shape" lleeid : distinct,
Body
compressedbut
somewhat
elongateand
:
broud.
stout.
Tail
tapering.
Eye : large,
pupilround,irisgolden.
Head
:
shields" Normal
and
shelter
the
eye.
of the
reachingright into the crown
Generally3 loreals. Two nasals. The
the 8 supra-labials,
shields,especially
black margins.
upper
head.
head
have
Scales" 17, not
markedly keeled, except perhaps the
middle
Ventrals"19G
overhang
supra-oculars
the
Two
prfe-oculars,
The
towards the tail.
rows
to 208 ; anal bifid. Sub-caudals,
108"134,
double.
Colouring Brownish, yellowisholive
"
olive green
of
;
yellowand
a
of
row
This
on
the
Scales with black
tips.
with
black edges,
posterior
black.
black
dots
double
ticuled patternon
dark
very
interstitialskin-colouring
with
Ventrals have thin
or
on
each
side of them.
sub-caudals
the tail.
makes
a
re-
or
Bellygreenish
white.
yellowish
When
young
is often
a
delicate green
unlike the adult.
Habitat
"
Very
*
common
in India.
mucosuso
JHy"fi
(NipboUon),
colour,
25
(Zameniakorros).
DHAMAN
SLENDER
THE
Length Six to seven feet.
with slender neck.
Shape Head : narrow
like the Dhaman.
Body, etc. : generally
Head shields" 'NormaA, generally
only two loreals and
otherwise
the shields have no black margins,
"
"
like the Dhaman.
Scales
15, smooth, with
"
Ventrals"17G
to
184; anal bifid. Sub-caudals
147, but may
ColouringUniform
"
apical
grooves.
be less (57 in
brown
olive.
specimen).
one
In the
is a transverse seriesof roundish
spots,formingcross-bands.
black
have
marginsibut
young
so
there
pearl-coloured
sub-caudals
The
not
138"
marked
as
in
the Dhaman.
Habitat
"
Common
in Burma,
Several other of these
theyhave
"
rare
Dhamans
in India.
"
special
Englishnames, so we
their scientificnames
them.
to distinguish
no
ZAMENIS
VENTRIMACULATUS
are
must
common,
fall back
but
on
{No Englishname).
Length -About 3 feet ; tail,
9^ inches.
distinct; with snout, obtuse
Sha/peHead : elongate,
and feebly
projecting.
and cylindrical.
Body : elongate
Tail : long.
Eye : moderate with round pupil.
Head shields Regular. A small sub-ocular is present
below the prae-ocular.
Upper labials9 (5,6).
The posterior
by two
separated
sublingualsare
"
"
"
series of scales,
*
Ptyat korroi (Nicholeon),
26
Scales"
19, smooth.
Ventrals"19i
Colour
to 220
;
anal bifid. Subcaudals
82"119.
olive above, usually
"Greyish,olive or yellowish
with
more
Yellowish
spots
obliquestreak
the temple.
Habitat
Commonest
"
below
with
side of the
each
on
dark
less marked
or
;
bars.
cross-
black
belly. A
another
on
India, Punjab,
Northern
Kashmir, Baluchistan
black
series of black
eye and
below the
iq
a
or
also Sind, Cutch
and
Bombay.
ZAMENIS
Length
Shape
"
"
FACrOLATUS
Grows
Head
to
:
(No EnglishnaTne).
3J feet in length,
; tailone-fifth.
small,flat;
Snout
not
very
obtuse,curved and
distinct from neck.
projecting.
slender,
Body : elongated,
tapering.
Tail
very slender.
pupilround,irisfaintly
large,
edged
with yellow.
small and
but the temporals
s/tiWcZs"Regular,
are
scale-like. Posterior sublinguals
are
separated
by two or three series of scales. Usuallya
small sub-ocular. Labials 8 (4 and 5).
Eye
Head
Scales
:
"
21
:
or
rather
23, smooth.
Ventrals" 200 to 2S0
;
anal bifid. Sub-caudals
73
"
95,
double.
In the
Colouring Yellowish,reddish or olive brown.
anterior partvery distinct narrow, white and
dark variegated
cross-bars about one-quarter
"
inch
apart.
In the young
of about ten white
black
margin,the
these bars consist
dots,each
surrounded
by a
black tnargins
beingoon-
If
part of the snake
tiguous.In the posterior
tinct,
less and less disbecome
the bars gradually
the black part becomingbrown and the
On the tail
another.
bars runninginto one
bars
the
not distinct at all.
are
cross-bands
The
The
adult.
may
crown
disappearin
entirely
blotches
white spotsor
head
of the
on
has
the
some
bellyis
it. The
uniform
Habitat
"
yellowish.
in
especially
Fairlycommon,
South
the
of
India.
DIADEMA
ZAMENIS
Length May grow
(SAope"Similar to
tail one-fifth.
to 6. feet,
"
Head
shields
"
(No Englishname).
ventrimaculaius.
Zamenis
are
usuallybroken
prse-frontals
The
up
series of
into several shields ; often three
shields between
Sab-oculars
or
The
"
a series
present,usually
are
of four
five.
small and scale-like. Loreals
are
temporals
three
Scales
the rostral and the frontal.
or
foul:.
14.
Upper labials,
May be 25 to 33.
keeled.
Slightly
Ventrcds" 210 to 278
;
29 is the most
usual number.
anal entire. Sub-caudals 65
"
110,
divided.
ColouringYellowrsh
olive,pale buff
"
above with
marked
a
or
vertebral line of
round
dark
brown
A
forminga series of rhombs.
or series of dots.
stripe
with
Lower partswhite, usually
spots.
sandy grey
more
or
less
spots, usually
lateral brown
small blackish
28
Head
or
partially
spottedor entirely,
be
may
black above.
Length
Shape
Grows
"
"
piscator).*
{Tropidonotus
KEELBAGK
CHECKERED
THE
India,Kashmir.
N.-W.
HahitatSind,
Head
four feet.
to
distinct with
:
rather stout.
Body
:
Tail
often short
:
crown.
narrow
in females.
iris
Eye : moderate, pupil round,
gold.
Nostrils : rather superior.
"
form
a
Internasals
; three
postprse-ocular
triangle
; one
Labials,9 (4,5).
oculars.
Scales
rhombic-
Loreal
Normal.
shields
Head
with
edged
19, keeled.
"
Ventrals"
to 149
129
;
anal bifid. Sub-caudals 50"90,
double.
Colouring Varies from yellowto very dark olive brown.
of square black
rows
May be six alternating
dots,formingblack checkers,but soraetinoes
onlythe outer row is distinct. There may be
"
between
red colouration
black
streaks go
THE
Common
Length
"
A
*
with
The
orbit.
lateral black
specimensunder
May
grow
2 feet.
Tropidonotui quincunciatus. (Nicholson),
t
the
tral
ven-
{Tropidonotus
atolatus).^
rather small snake.
Most
from
Two
dots.
in India and Burma.
KEELBACK
BUFF-STKIPED
outer
backward
Bellycream-coloured
margins.
Habitat"
the
Chameleon
Snake
(Nicholson).
to
2^
feet.
29
Shape"
Hend
:
small,not very distinct from neck.
slender.
Body : elongate,
Tail : fine and tapering.
Eye : moderate in size ; pupilround, irisgolden.
Teeth
Mead
:
small,usual type.
shields" Norma].
Nasal
double,
one
loreal,one
three post-ocular,
one
temporal.
prae-ocular,
Labials 7 or 8 (3, 4, sometimes 5). Thfe sixth
the
invades
labial is largeand
temporal
region.
: two
terior
Sublinguals
pairsas usual,but the pospair is separatedby two small scales
and a largepairposteriorly.
anteriorly
Scales
19,
"
keeled.
strongly
121 to 161 ; anal bifid. Sub-caudals
Ventrals"
50"79,
double
conspicuous
Colouring Greenish brawn, with two
yellow parallelstripesalong the back.
Numerous
black cross-bands,interrupted
by
colour gets so dark
these yellowlines. The
that the black cross-hands can
posteriorly,
The yellowstripes
hardlybe distinguished.
where they cross
the black crossare
lighter
"
bands.
the cross-bands
Between
paleblue
inconspicuous
apparent when
at
The
and
throat, supra-labials
prae- and
most
with
are
a
more
post-
yellow.
series of lateral black dots
of the ventrals,
more
Common
rather
excited,
often red.
Bellywhite
"
the snake is alive and
which time these partsare
ocular shields
Habitat
is a
anteriorly
much
colouring,
on
apparent anteriorly.
in India and Burma.
30
THE
HIMALAYAN
Length
Shape
KEELBACK
About
"
Head
"
platyceps..
{Tropidonotus
three feet
:
;
tail 9 J inches.
distinct from
neck.
cylindrical.
Body : elongate,
Tail : moderate
in length.
Eye : moderate with round pupil.
Head
shields" i^ormal
Scales
upper
keeled.
19, feebly
"
Ventrals
"
177 to 235
Sub-caudals
Colour
labials 8
;
Anal
divided.
75"107.
above
with small black
two
spots; frequently
black
lines,or
parallel
elliptical
markingon
streak
lightblack-edged
an
A
ends.
Olive brown
Variable.
"
with rounded
(3,4, 5).
head
; or,
a
the nape.
side of the
black line from
eye to nape.
without blackish dots
with or
Bellyyellowish,
black line or
a
frequently
blackish spotsalong each
lower
each
on
surface
of
tail
;
series of
elongate
side of the belly;
frequentlymottled
a
blackish.
Throat
Habitat
"
Himalayas and
in
THE
sometimes
"
"
About
KEELBACK
two
Head
Khasi
Hills.
It is
common
parts,e.g.,Kasauli.
some
OLIVACEOUS
Length
Shape
black.
: a
{Helicops
schiatosius).*
feet ; tail a quarterof
length.
short, rather pointedmuzzle.
Body
:
Tail
rather
rather stout.
long.
with gold.
Eye : small,pupilround,iris speckled
Nostrils : placedrather high.
*
:
Atretium
achittosum (Nicholson).
32
throughout. In
(Colouring"
Bright, uniform
green
specimens there is a broad, yellow,
young
black crossbars
black- margined " collar ; narrow
with alternate black spotsand alternate
interstitialcross-lines.
white
These
colours
in the
made
Habitat
adult,though
in many
out
SNAKE
present
experience,
traces
of them
be
can
specimens.
in Central and
Very common
"
WHIP
THE
not, in my
are
South
India.
{Dryophismycterizansor perroteti).*
Length Grows to six feet. The tail is often nearlyas
long as the body.
Shape" Head : elongate,distinct. The snout is very
long and ends in a flexibleappendage.
compressed and
Body and tail are elongate,
slender and long.
excessively
horizontal.
Eye : large; pupil,
nostril is in a singlenasal. The
Head shields The
is no
There
regionis concave.
prse-ocular
"
"
loreal.
Scales
15; smooth,
"
narrow
Ventrals- -172
and
to 188;
much
irabrioat""r-The
largerthan
slightly
fanshaped.
vertebral series
others
and
are
anal entire.
Sub-caudals
the
140
"
shghtlykeeled.
Colouring Grassgreen,with yellow lateral stripe
;
palerbelow. Black and white cross-bands on
166,
"
the interstitialskin.
Habitat
Note."
different.
*
Common
"
in most
partsof India.
In the
The
NilgiriHills the Whip Snake isslightly
taperingsnout has no flexibleappendage.
PaBserita Mtfctcrizan$"ihaCommou
tireen Tree
Snake
(^icholsOIl;.
3S
The
number
anal
of ventralsis
divided.
less,
v/s.,135
Sub-caudals
it is considered
different
a
66
to 147 ;
Hence
82.
"
species{Dryophis
perroteti).*
In Burma
and
Bengalthe
is replaced
by the
BUFF
WHIP
SNAKE
Whip
common
Snake
{Dryophis
prasinus).^
It is very similar to the
but differsas follows :
Whip Snake,
common
"
The
though
appendage.
snout,
There
are
The
one
or
ventrals
234
anal
;
colour
white
are
long,has
loreal
more
more
divided
Sub-caudals
The
very
flexible
no
shields present
numerous,
203
viz.,
to
it is entire).
(veryrarely
155"207.
varies.
Sometimes
green
with
a
lateral
stripe.But it may be light
ochre with white bellyand a lateral ochre
stripe.Or, it may be pale olive or greybrowji with a yellowstripe
alongeach side of
.
the lower parts.
It has been known
The
of
interstitialskin
pure white.
of the neck is black
a
and
white.
THE
BRONZE-BACK
Length"Grovfs
mention
to four
(Dendrophiapictu8).t
feet,tailone-third
of its length.
perroteti.
Tropidoeoeeyx
The Bu" Tree Snake"
t Nicholaoc:
Tragi^ipratinus.
Snake
Tree
(NicboUon;. Dendrelaphittrittiiis so similar that
*
I Blue
SNAKE
TREE
is not
Nicholson:
requiredin
this hook.
a
ate
separ-
34
Head
Shape
"
:
a
rather
moderatelylong,rounded
long,flathead,distinct from
A
snout.
the slender
neck.
Body
and
Eye : largewith
Head
shields
"
Scales
round
Venirals~160
iris yellowish.
to 200
;
vertebral series
The
and imbricate.
the rest and
than
larger
are
pupil;
pressed.
com-
Normal.
15, smooth
"
elongate,slender and
tail very
in shape.
polygonal
anal bifid, Sub-caudals
87
156,
"
double.
The ventrals have
two
nearlysquare
are
keels at
at
keels, i.e.,the
these
ends of the ventrals make
and
their ends
two
lines,
straight
each side of the
belly.
Colouring""Rather variable. Either deep blue with a
brightyellowlateralstripe
; ventrals yellowish,
with a lateral spot at regularintervals. Or,
bronze with blue marginsto the scales under
the imbrication,
bellyyellowand dark lateral
from eye to vent.
stripe
on
one
Habitat
THE
"
India and Burma.
GOLDEN
SJHAKEffihryaopelea
omata).
TREK
Length Grows
Shape Similar
"
"
to four
feet,tail one-quarter.
to the
Bronze-back
slender and
but
elongate,
Tree Snake.
less
than
su
It is
some
other tree snakes.
Head
Scales
shields
"
"
17,
Normal.
smooth, rhombic
Vertebral
row
Ventrals" 180 to 236
Ventrals have
;
not
in
shape, imbricate.
enlarged.
anal bifid. Sub-caudals 96"147.
two
sharpkeels
with
a
notch
at
35
the hind
The last ventral is divided
margin.
like the anal.
Colouring.Head
:
"
black with
crossyellowpunctulated
bands.
Body : black,with a flowered patternformed by
brightyellow dots on each scale,or with
cross-bars.
yellowpunctulated
Habitat.
THE
India and Burma.
"
{Dipsadomorphus
SNAKE
TREE
BROWN
COMMON
gokoolor trigonatus).*
Length" Groves to three or even four feet ; tail one-sixth.
Shape Head : broad, short and very distinct.
thickest
and slender,
elongate
Body : compressed,
"
in the middle.
tapering,
comingto a fine point.
iris golden.
Eye : moderate, pupilvertical,
Head
shields Regular.
The vertebral series are
Scales" 21, smooth,imbricate.
enlarged.
slightly
Tail
:
very
"
Ventrals
211 to 269; anal entire. Sub-caudals
"
78
102,
"
double.
Colouring Yellowish
or
"
It has dark
brown
greyish
cross-bars.
Or,
or
a
greyisholive.
series of irregular
buff,black-edgedvertebral spots,from
the
sides of each
of which
drops a
black
fasciolated Y mark.
Belly: white
or
with
yellowish
lateral brown
or
black dots.
The
head
has
more
or
less distinct brown
yellowmarkings.
in India.
Habitat.-^Common
*
Dipiat(MicboUon).
or
36
THE
BROWN
BURMESE
(Dipsadomorphua
SNAKE
TEEE
'inultimacnlatus).*
Very similar to
the
brown
common
tree
snake.
But
sometimes
only
enlarged.
slightly
Scales" 19,
or
fawn,with
round, dark
a
dorsal seriesof
numerous
spotswith black and white
spotsoften have
white dots.
alternating
;
series
Vertebral
Sub-caudals 80"106.
Ventrals to 202"245.
Colouring"Dark
17.
black
the
Head
gin
mar-
pendantsand
has
a
black
"
streak ; or a broad arrow
post-ocular
a
large round spot. Belly white,
enclosing
and
mottled with fawn.
Habitat."
Burma.
BIND
THE
SNAKE
SAND
{Paammophisachokari).
Length"Ahont four feet ; tail 17 inches.
snout,
Long pointed
: distinctfrom neck.
Shape"Reeid.
loreai region
very concave.
elongate.
Body.:cylindrical,
Tail: elongated.
Eye : moderate, with round pupil.
Head shields" Normail. The frontal is longand narrow,
the supra-oculars
rather prominent.Upper
labials 9 (5,6).
Scales
17, smooth
(rarely
19).
"
Ventrails" 162 to 195 ; anal divided.
Sub-caudals 93
"
149.
Colouring Yellowish,greyish,pale olive
"
above.
It may, be uniform, or
with darker colour.
striped
*
Diptai (Nicholson;.
or
reddish
spottedor
37
dark streak
A
on
throughthe
to
nose
the
Habitat
"
THE
"
"
from
yellowstreaks
eye. Or, two
neck,passingone
head, passing
above
and
one
below
eye.
with dark dots or spots.
Lips : usually
with dark dots and one
Belly: yellowish,
usually
two interrupted
each side
dark lines on
or
or
very thin lateral black stripes.
Baluchistan,
Sind, Punjab.
DESERT
COMMON
Length
Shape
each side of the
;
SNAKE
(Psammodynastes
pulverulentus).
Adult
lengthabout
a
foot
;
tailone-fifth.
General appearance and colour not unlike a short,
narrow-headed common
brown tree snake.
Head
very distinct from neck. Snout
flat,loreal region
obtuse, crown
longand
:
and
short
concave.
very
Body and tailrather stout.
Eye : moderate, pupilvertical.
Teeth
:
the
second
or
third
in a largemucous
enveloped
simulate a poisonfang.
Head
shields
"
tooth
long and
so
as to
envelope
Normal.
Internasals very small ; prse-frontals
rounded or
angulatedbehind ; frontal long; supra-oculars
Scales
"
prominent; nasal single,piercedby nostril.
Labials 8 (3,4, 5) ; the firstthree high.
17 (rarely
19),short,rhombic,smooth.
Ventrals"\iQ
to 167 ; anal entire.
Sub-caudals 50
"
59,
divided.
Colouring Light brown,
"
black vertebral
mottled.
When
with
stripe,
an
young
a
edgingof
38
with
disappears
white spots; this
black and
age.
Throat
:
Bellyand
Assam,
"
B."
KEAIT
B.
Length" May
Head
"
:
Poisonous.
(Bungarua caeruleus,
small ; not
shields." The
two
Usuallybetween
feet,tail one-eighth.
feet.
very distinct.
stout.
Body : moderately
Tail : short,rather tapering.
Eye : small with black iris,so
pupilcannot be seen.
Teeth : a short poison-fang.
Head
two
arcuatua).
to four
grow
and three
Shape
head.
Burma.
INDIAN
COMMON
on
yellowwith a median and
of brown mottlingor lines.
SUB-GROUP
THE
mark
sides
lateral rows
Habitat
; "
white,mottled
nasal touches
the
the first and
the
but never
supra-labials,
that
round
second
third.
Lo'real absent.
fifthand sixth
shield touching
Temporal,a single
7 (3 and 4).
Supra-labials
supra-labials.
touch fourth infra-labial.
Posterior sublinguals
*
and
Mfl^labials 4, the fourth the largest
touches only2 scales behind. (Fig.10.)
\b, smooth.
Scales"
and
Ventrals
"
201
Vertebral
row
*
distinctly
enlarged
hexagonal.(Fig 7.)
to
221; anal entire. Sub-caudals 38
entire
"
Tbese
two
oharaoterisMcB
kraits from
distinguiBh
all other snaket.
"
56,
40
Head
Shape
"
short and rounded.
:
Body : anterior
beingerected
ribs
and capableof
elongated
so
to
as
dilate the skin of the
neck into the well-known
Tail
:
Eye :
hood.
rather short.
moderate
round
with
An
erect
the
nasal
pupil.
short
poison-fang.
shields Supra-labials
7.
The
3rd supra-labial
touches both
shield and the eye. (Fig.11.)
The prse-ocular
shield touches the
Head
"
Between
internasal.
the fourth and fifthinfra-labial shields
small
called the
wedge-shapedscale occurs
"cuneate." (Fig.11 c). The cuneate occurs
a
in
The
other land snake.
no
fourth and
fifth infra-labialsare
of the series and about
Scales
"
The
number
varies.
middle of
Ventrals
loreal.
subequal.No
At
the
neck
31"33,
body 19"27.
184 to 197 ; anal entire. Sub-caudals
"
largest
the
53
69,
"
divided.
ColouringVery
"
variable.
May
buflPor wheat-colour to
even
green.
The
be
any
shade
from
olive,brown, black
hood may
or
be without marks
device or an
spectacle-like
various
oval spot surrounded by an ellipse
or
is genermodifications of these. The ellipse
ally
in the Burman
seen
variety.The mark
or
may
is on
have
the
the skin,not
Hahitat-^India and Burma.
THE
HAMADRAYAD
Length"Grows
feet.
OR
to
KING
12 feet.
on
the scales.
A
very
COBRA
One
common
snake.
{Naia Bungarus).
is recorded of
over
15
4l
Shape
"
The neck is dilatable,
but to
a
less extent
than
in the cobra.
Head
Pupilround. An erect, short
poison-fang.
shields A pairof large
shields are in contact with
another behind the parietals.
No other
one
"
snake has this feature.
touchingthe fifth,
sixth and seventh supra-labials.
touches
7. The third supra-labial
Supra-labials
Two
lower
the
temporals,
the nasal shield and the eye
in the
as
cobra.
(Fig.11.)
Scales
15
"
Ventrals
(on the hood about 19).
215 to 262 ; anal entire. Sub-caudals 80
"
the firstten sub-caudals
About
remainder
divided.
are
by no
other
varieties of the
"
100.
the
entire,
are
This feature is possessed
snake, except
some
rare
krait,and the krait would
be
vertebrals.
at once
distinguished
by its enlarged
identified.
The kingcobra is thus easily
ColouringThe young are jetblack with white or yellow
"
cross-bars
Adults
or
vary.
chevrons.
They
may
be
yellow,
olive-green,
olive-brown, blackish-brown
or
black
with
yellowishor whitish
cross-bars or chevrons.
Lightspecimensare
often more
with black.
or less variegated
Throat light-yellowish,
bellymay be mottled or
more
or
less distinct
barred.
Habitat.
"
India.
Found
in jungles
or their vicinity.
Thb Coral
so
Appropriately
them
have
Snakes.
called by Wall, since most
bellies adorned
with
colouring
resembling
pinkcoral.
a
of
beautiful
42
There
are
different kinds of coral
seven
they are mentioned
snakes.
completethe poisonous
of a coral snake
general
description
all rare
A
;
but
A
13 inches and
Shape
"
Head
:
Body
:
Tail
:
Ej'e:
Head
in order to
will suffice.
CoKAti Snake.
Xcng'^^"
Generallyabout
They are
snakes,
2 feet
another
or
to 4
grows
is only
One
under.
or
5 feet.
small snakes.
short
; not
neck.
distinct from
slender.
longand
sliort.
with rounrl
pupil.
Teeth : an erect, short poison-fang.
touches the nasal
shields" The third supra-labial
(as a rule)and the eye. (The only other
snakes which
have
this feature
are
the cobra
kingcobra with which the coral snakes are
coral
Hence
not
a
to be confused.
likely
snake can
be recognised
by this feature alone.)
(Fig.ll.)
and
There is no
Scales
"
loreal.
13.
FcnfraZs"
over
Considerably
The
200.
but is entire in
bifid,
one
or
two
anal
generally
rare
Burmese
specimens.
Sub-caudals under 50, double.
Colouring The various species
vary in colour. Some
"
black with red heads and tails,
others
brown, j'ellow
or
red.
Most
are
are
reddish
marked
with
bands or lines and
longitudinal
in most the belly
is red or pink,either uniform
marked.
or
transversely
transverse
or
43
Habitat
May
"
yellowbellies.
kinds have
Two
would
to be
seem
Nothingis known
snakes.
They
if
are
can
fact that the
out to form
a
do any harm
IV.
AND
a
man.
vertical fin like that of
an
eel.
largeshields.
reputedvery deadlyand
is eighttimes
commonest
are
Snakes
"
to
always be recognised
by the
tail is compressed,
flattened
i.e.,
poisonof the
that
as
powerful
GROUP
of
{HydrophiivcB].
The head is covered
Sea-snakes
the gape
ful
limited,that it is very doubt-
they would
sea-snake
small and
so
SEA-SNAKES
A
places.
poison of the coral
in these
rare
about the
is so
the mouth
of India,but
parts,
and
in Burma
occur
with
of
a
with
the
as
cobra.
broad
ventrals
(nOTSHIELDED)HEADS.
SCALY
This group consists of the
vipersand
the
vipers
only.
There
kinds of
the pit-vipers
viz.,
vipers,
and the pitless
vipers.
The former have a deep pitbetween
the eye
and the nostrils,
called the loreal pit. No
other snakes have this pit,so a pit-viper
is
easily
recognised,
two
are
The
Pitless Vipers,
THE'SAW-'SC.^LED.
Length-^Oneto
one
VIPER
and
a
{Eohiscarinata).
half feet
"
;
tail one-twelfth.
Also calledPAovrta,'
Euppirand other local namet.
44
Shape
"
Head
:
broad
Body
:
stout.
Tail
short.
:
Eye
and thick.
moderate
with erect
pupil.
: a
plete
capableof comvery long poison-fang
depression.
:
Teeth
Nostril : small.
a small
very small internasals,
the head
nasal and a pairof sublinguals,
single
Head
Scales
sAzcZcZs"Excepttwo
"
Ventrals
is
scaly.(Fig.9.)
completely
25 to
keeled and much
37, strongly
to 154
149
"
;
imbricate.
anal entire. Sub-caudals
single.
Colouring"Sandj, grey, lightbrown or dark
less distinct pale sinuous
or
more
21
26,
"
cedar.
line
A
along
the flank.
A
Habitat"
broad,palebrown "
whitish,spotted.
India;common
desert-like
RUSSELL'S
Length
Shape
"
VIPER
Grows
mark
the
{ViperaRusselli
the head.
Belly
sandy,
parts,especially
in many
placesin
on
or
plains.
Daboia
"
elegana)."
to five feet ; tailone-sixth.
Similar to the saw-scaled
viperbut much larger
and stouter.
The nostril is large.
shields The head is completely
Head
scaled except
three small shields surrounding
the nostriland
the sublinguals.
(Fig.9.)
keeled and imbricate.
Scales 27
33, strongly
"
"
"
Fen"m/s"
"
163
to
170; anal
bifid. Sub-caudals
double.
*
Also called the Chtin
Viper,DiMi^.
45
"60,
45
Colouring
"
Buff
with three longitudinal
light-brown
large,dark white edgedring-spots,
or
series of
the median
series often
confluent.
pinkor salmon V with its apex
Belly: whitish and spotted.
the plains.In some
India,chiefly
a
Habitat
"
on
Head
has
the snout.
parts quite
common.
Pit Vipers.
The
A.11 the
the
viperscan
pitloreal pit,which
between
There
be
readilyrecognisedby
is a conspicuous
opening
the eye and the nostril.
about twelve
are
trouble to
but we need
species,
between all these.
distinguish
is sufficient for
our
purpose
to
be
not
It
able to
"
pit-viper.
found only in hilly
The pit-vipers
are
regions
from 2,000 to 10,000 feet.
at heights
I shall give a generaldescription
and
then
the two commonest.
specify
"
spot
a
The
Pit- Viper.
Length Varies from one to four feet.
and
Shape "Head : broad, thick,almost sub-triangular
"
very distinctfrom neck.
It contains the loreal
pit.
Body : stout.
Tail : moderate
Eye
:
Teeth
Head
moderate
or
short.
with vertical pupil.
longpoison-fang.
shields Of the twelve species,
have scaly
nine
h?ads. Not, however, quiteso scaly
as
th^.
"
: a
46
labials,
as
nasals,
pitless
vipers,
supra-oculars,
be made out.
etc.,can generally
for the strict definition of our
Unfortunately
Group IV; three of the specieshave nearly
normally shielded heads like the snakes in
Group III. One of these three is the
common
Himalayan Viper. But as these
into
come
three are vipersand so naturally
recognised
by
Group IV, and can be readily
I have not thoughtit necessary
the loreal pit,
to make
Scales
another
Generallyabout
"
Ventrals
Less
"
group.
21
"
25.
One
has
species
29.
than 200.
brown
Colouring Pit-vipers are all green or
various black markings.
Habitat
Hillyor mountainous
regions. The
"
"
with
layas,
Hima-
Ghats, South Indian ranges and Ceylon.
COMMON
THE
VIPER
OE
BAMBOO
SNAKE
{Lachesis
gramineus).
Grows
Length
Shape
"
or
shields
A
"
scalyhead.
and
Scales
But there is a
single
supraocular
n
singleasal.
also a
labials,
21, keeled. Posteriorly
only 15.
More
Usually vivid foliage-green.
rarely
or
yellowish
brown,sometimes streaked with
black. Usuallya well defined white or yellow
"
Colour
3|-feet.
As above.
"
Head
to 3
"
^
9 to 12
flank line.
Belly: whitish
or
uniform
greenish,
or
ly
indistinct-
mottled.
Habitat
"
Much
the commonest
of the
and most
buted
widelydistri-
layas,
pitvipers.Found in the HimaE.andW.
and other hills.
Ghats,Nilgiris
quiteeasy
whether
given snake
first thingto do
any
The
of i,he four groups
one
at
belly. If
the
is
not.
or
poisonous
is to placethe unknown
mentioned in Chapter V.
there
are
in these two
groups
or
snake
into
Look
first
only narrow
and
II,respectively,
ventrals,
no
the snake fallsinto Groups I
ventrals-,
all snakes
definitely
sufficient to be able to say
to remember
or
harmless.
are
specimen has broad ventrals. The
If (with broad
head.
next thingto do is to inspect the
the head is scalythe snake fallsinto Group IV and
ventrals)
all snakes in Group IV are poisonous,for they are all vipers
But
suppose
the
of sorts.
have
If,so far,we
broad ventrals
It may
a
placedour
shielded head
and
is
snake,it
falls into
with
one
Group
III.
poisonousor non-poisonous.
Group III there are only two poisonous snakes
be either
But
which
and
not
in
at all
are
These
two
common.
are
the Cobra
and the Krait.
in sayingwhether
difficulty
the specimenis a cobra.
A big snake, four or five feet long,
marked
hood it is one of the easiest
with its characteristically
will not
There
snakes to tell.
If in
be
any
much
doubt,
examine
the
scales in the
scale touches the nasal
upper lip. The third supra-labial
shield and the eye. (Fig.11.) No
harmless snake has this
feature.
If not
in
a
cobra,is the specimena krait
as
answeringthis question,
all small snakes kraits.
when
but
length,
or
The
young.
Burman
To
But
there
kraits
We
?
is
a
a
be
tendencyto
ful
care-
call
very small except
Indian krait is usually
about 2 to 3 feet in
are
not
while
it may grow to 4 feet or more
krait may reach nearlyto 6 feet.
spot
must
kiait the first thing to do
specimenin Group III) ia to look at
scales,
along the middle
t,e., the row
the
the Banded
(after
placingthe
vertebral
of the back.
row
of
In
the
49
enlarged(Fig.7.) If theyare
distinctly
the same
size as the other scales the specimen cannot be a
krait. Still some
other snakes (harmless
) have the vertebral
scales enlarged,
cannot relyon this pointalone.
so
we
krait these scales
are
the colour of
krait is very distinctive. It is a
black snake with white (orin Burma yellow)
bars.
crossglistening
But
a
In all kraits,
too,except some
caudals
the subvarieties,
rare
entire.
to make
Lastly,
quitecertain, examine
the lower lip, A krait has onlyfour infrathe scales on
labial shields and the fourthis the largest^
(Fig.10.)
If the specimen,
already
placedin Group III,is neither
it is almost certainly
snake.
a cobra nor
a krait,
a harmless
So far all that has been said in this chaptercan, I
are
think, easilybe remembered.
quitesure
that
we
spot a
can
It will be necessary to make
krait and then we can
with
confidence say whether the snake is harmless or
To recapitulate
snake in one
: placethe
If it fallsinto
groups.
Group
IV
it is
unless it is
To be
a
We
we
a
or
if into
of the
II it is harmless
Group III
;
four
ifinto
it is harmless,
krait.
certain
absolutely
that
givensnake is harmless a
must be remembered.
It is possible,
of course,
dealingnot with a krait or cobra and not with
littlemore
that
poisonous
;
pobra or
a
GroupsI
poisonous.
are
harmless
snake
but
have settled that
one
a
of the
poisonoussnakes.
rare
specimenis not
viper(GroupIV)
and not a krait or a cobra. If it is not a harmless
snake,
what -could it possibly
be ? Well, it mightbe a kingcobra
or a coral snake,or
it might be one
of the three pitvipers
which
have
shielded heads.
snakes in India
remember
can
make
our
how
or
to
Burma
spotthese
There
known
as
are
so
well as
if
a
no
other
poisonous
manage to
the cobra and krait we
we
can
certain as to the harmlessness or otherabsolutely
wise
of the givenspecimen.A reference to the description
50
of these snakes in
to remember
ChapterVI
will show
their characteristics. It is
that it is quiteeasy
reallysufficient to
king cobra and the coral snakes resemble the
cobra in havingthe third supra-labial
shield touching
the
nasal shield and the eye (Fig.11). No
other snakes but
the cobra,kingcobra and coral snakes,have this
these,viz.,
note
that the
characteristic.
in spiteof their shielded heads,
pit-vipers,
would be recognised
at once
by the lorealpit.
To completethis chapterI may remind the reader that
the sea-snakes are all poisonous.They presentno
difficulty,
at once
however, as they would be recognised
by the eel-like
to form a fin.
flattened out vertically
tail,
The
three
CHAPTER
HOW
TO
ANY
"SPOT"
First observe the snake
VII.
COMMON
Note
carefully.
SNAKE.
itshead"
whether
its belly whether it has ventrals and, ifso,
scaly,
Count the rows
of scales ;
whether theyare narrow
or broad.
than the others ;
the vertebral series are larger
note whether
and if keeled or smooth.
note also if the scales are imbricate,
shielded
or
"
Count the ventrals and sub-caudals and note whether
shield and sub-caudals
are
or
single
bifid. Then
the anal
observe the
shapeof the snake,its eye, any peculiarilengthand general
ties
in its head shields,
turn your attention to its
etc. Lastly,
colour and markings.
the snake in one
By this time you will have easily
placed
of the four groups.
If it fallsinto either Group I, II or IV,
enable you to give it a
q, reference to ChapterV will easily
If itfallsinto Group III and is a poisonous
name.
snake,the
information given in the last chapter,
togetherwith that in
reveal its identity.
ChapterVI, will againreadily
51
The
real
lies in recognising
the numerous
difficulty
snakes included in Group III, Sub-GroupA
Harmless."
To search throughall these,even
in this littlebook,from
"
"
which all but the
the
number
A
reference to
between snakes
in
following
key,
possessedby a snake. In
this number
all,
ChapterV
havingthe
this easier,
I have
the
devised the
of scales
snakes,thoughnot
bfeen eliminated
have
ones
I have
wearyingtask,so
on
common
added
is
a
constant
will enable the reader to
same
few
a
is a
based
most
feature.
distinguish
number
and to make
of scales,
other
distinguishing
pointsin
key.
key,the snake cannot be identifiedthe
of
through the descriptions
onlythingleft is to go carefully
the whole lot,as the specimenmay be one
with an abnormal
number
of scales. If,even
then, it is not found it is not
snake ; but the ordinaryreader,for whom
this
a common
book is meant, is very unlikely
to meet with uncommon
snakes.
onlyfound by the naturalist or zoologist
They are generally
and systematic
who makes special
search for them
and to
of
If,in spite
whom
this
this book would be of
no
use
or
interest.
Remember, althoughthe colour is of the greatestuse
the specimen,
never
finally
identifying
firstand never
relyon the colour alone.
KEY
TO
THE
SUB-GROUP
SNAKES
A.
for the
GROUP
{Harmlesssnakes
shielded heads and
Scales 15
IN
to go
broad ventrals
in
colour
III,
with
)
"
1. The Blunt
headed
Snake
man{Amhlycephalus
ticola).
Vertebrals
enlarged.No
menta-l groove
Page
17
522.
{No Englishname)
A small snake
3.
The
Variegated
Ablabes
calamaria.
Page
...
...
Kukri
Snake
18
{Oligodonsub-
griseus).
A
4.
5.
6.
small snake
Page
The Slender Dhaman
{Zameniskorros).
in
Grows
to about
6 feet,
only common
Burma
Page
The Whip Snake {JDryophis
mycterizans).
Enlargedvertebra Is,horizontal pupil; very
and
slender and long,
with long snout
flexible appendage.Green colour. Page
The Buff Whip
Snake {Dryophis
prasinus).
Similar to above but without appendage.
Only found in Burma
Page
The Bronze-back
Tree Snake
{Dendrophis
pictusor Dendrelaphistristis).
Vertebrals enlarged,
has keeled ventrals.
Bronze or blue in colour
Page
...
...
...
...
19
25
32
33
...
7.
33
...
Scales 17
1.
"
{No Englishname) Simotes
About
1 to 2
markings
2.
The
feet. Has
arnensis.
distinctive head
Page
Coral Tail Snake {Simotes
cruentatus).
Found only in Burma
Page
Common Wolf Snake {Lycodonaulicus).
Not more
than 2 feet in length.Chocolate
brown with white or yellow cross-bands
Page
Dhaman
Snake {Zamenismucosus)
or Rat
A large,
stout snake often more
than 6 feet
in length
Page
...
...
...
3. The
4.
The
...
...
20
21
21
24
53
5. The
Golden
Tree
Ventral
Snake
keels. Black
colour
6. The
ornata).
{Chrysopelea
and yellowor golden
Page
...
Burmese
Brown
Tree
Snake
morphus multimaculatus).
Enlargedvertebrals
7. The
Sind Sand
8. The
Desert
Snake
34
...
{DipsadoPage
...
36
{Psammophis schokari).
36
{Psammodynastespulveru-
Snake
lentes.)
Vertical
pupil.Chieflyfound
in Burma.
Page
Scales
1.
19
"
onlyin
The
Red
Dhaman
Grows
to
cyclurus.
Burma
21
6
feet.
Zamenis
...
cator)
5. The
Keel-back
...
...
Bufp-striped
A
Page
23
Page
25
vbntrimaculatus.
A sub-ocular scale present
Checkered
colour.
Chestnut
snake...
{No Englishname)
4. The
"
...
{Coluberradiatus).
Burmese
3.
Simotes
{No Englishname)
Found
2.
37
...
(Tropidonotus
pisPage
28
...
Keel-back
,
{Tropidonotus
stolatus).
The
buff stripesalong the
conspicuous
back are very distinctive
Page
...
6. The
Himalayan
Keel-back
platyceps)
7. The
Olivaceous
tosus)
8. The
"""
...
Keel-back
{HelicopsschisPage
...
...
Burmese
{Tropidonotus
Page
Brown
...
Tree
Snake
morphus multimaculatus).
Vertebrals enlarged
...
28
30
30
{DipsadoPage
36
54
Scales
1.
21
"
A
2.
scale-like
The
Common
the
Brown
phus yokool)
Scales
1.
23
...
Zamenis
{No Englishname)
between
cyclurus.
snake
Burmese
Has
3.
Simotes
{No Englishname)
Page
fasciolatus.
temporalsand small scales
Page
sublinguals
Tree. Snake {DipsadornorPage
35
...
...
"
{No Englishname)
Zamenis
faciolatus.
small
scales between
the
Bage
sublinguals
The Green Keel-back
plum(Macropisthodon
bicolor).
Green colour
Page
...
...
...
Scales 25
1.
26
...
Scale-like temporalsand
2.
21
26
31
"
{No Englishname)
Has
2. The
Zamenis
several sub-oculars
Green
Keel-back
diadema.
...
"
27
{Macropisthodon
plum-
hicolor).
Green
Scales 27
1.
in colour
...
...
Page
31
"
{No Englishname) Zamenis
Has
2. The
several sub-oculars
Green
Kbel-back
(
diadema.
...
"
27
Macropisthodon
plum-
hicolor).
Green
in colour
...
Page
(Coluber
Helena).
Page
...
3.
The
Little Trinket
Snake
31
22
Scales 29, 31, 33"
{No Englishname)
Zamenis
diadema
"
27
56
There
are
in fact many
cases
recorded
of
a
man
being
by an undoubtedlydeadlysnake and showing no illThe
treatment.
or
without any special
eiFects,
recovering
fact is that the snake does not alwaya inject
its poison
when
bitten
it bites.
into
poisonis injected
by the snake's poison-fang
the blood,just as a doctor injects
with a
serum
a drug or
hypodermicsyringe.The blood carriesthe poisonto allparts
of the body. So the firstand most importantthing to do to
round
a
tightly
person bitten by a snake is to tie a ligature
The
the limb above
the bite.
cut into the
Then
bite and let the
and suck it to tryand draw the poison
out.
freely
Some
powderedpermanganate of potashmay also be rubbed
into the wound, supposingthat any is available. Hurry
and the doctor there will give
off to a hospital
the patient
which
of anti-veneme
the patient
save
an
injection
may
if onlyit can
be given soon
enough. But it must be given
wound
bleed
after the bite to be
soon
of any
use.
Then
the
doctor will
they arise,
giving
heart stimulants,
such as brandy and strychnine
for failing
if the breathing
fails,
circulation,
doingartificialrespiration
watch
and
so
for symptoms and combat
them
as
on.
about native remedies. In my experi.
sceptical
about snakes,neither the educated
natives know nothing
ence
shikari. They invariably
Indian nor
the jungle-dweller
nor
and generally
have some
tallstory
pronounce them all deadly,
to tellfor which there is not the slightest
foundation in fact.
The
snakes used by the ordinaryIndian jugglerand
all harmless as they have had their poison
snake-charmer
are
instances on record
glandsremoved, but there are numerous
of snake-charmers and other natives beingkilled by allowing
deadlysnakes to bite them under the delusion that they were
charm
that theyhad an infallible
immune
or
owing to some
I
cure.
am
very
Natives as
a
rule are
a
credulous lot and their stories
57
of
immunityand of cure must
the proverbial
pinchof salt.
done however
all is said and
When
be taken with
even
there
than
more
instances
are
their personal
competent observers recording
of snake stones, chai ms
of the apparent efficiency
experiences
on
of
record
as they
really
One of
explanation.
any
appear to be, it is difficultto oflfer
the most
reasonable is the theory that these professional
inoculated themselves with,
have gradually
snake charmers
and then graduallyincreasingdoses of
at first,minute
the
themselves immune
snake poison,thus rendering
; on
and
such
things.And
like
lines that
same
a
if the
poisonby being inoculated ; or
rendered immune
are
laboratory
such
are
immune
is rendered
man
facts
animals
to
enteric fever
pathologist's
organicpoisons
in the
to various
diphtheria. '*""
But I cannot too stronglyimpress on
as
of Indians* about
the statements
snakes
my
reader that
is hardlyever
worth
or
properties
anything: either with regardto their poisonous
habits or characteristics. The harmless little
their general
Lycodon is alwaysdeclared deadly.
elicits an account of
A stumpy tailed cobra generally
how
the
As
man.
due
cobra
a
loses an
matter
inch of its tail every
Another
it bites a
snakes lose part of their
of fact many
probablyto havingthem
time
bitten off by
instance of the native's
a
tails,
mongoose.
ignoranceand credulity
is the
belief in the existence of a poisonous
lizard
widespread
which they call the
bis-cobra." Many harmless lizards of
with tales of their
varyingsize have been broughtto me
I believe I am
fearfullethal powers.
rightin sayingthat
lizard known to zoologists,
there is no poisonous
"
*
does
seems
The average
not
pretend
to be
European kuows
to
expected
do so.
to
The
know
snakes,he always pretends to
yery
littleabout
also,but
as
a
rule he
native, especiallythe shikari and jungle-dweller,
^
something,
know
snakes
when
and
asked.
although
he
is
quite
ignorantof
58
a
as
It is almost unnecessary to say that there is no such thing
end
double-headed snake,i.e.,
a snake with a head at each
body. Native snake exhibitors,however, sometimes
facture
displaywhat they call double-headed snakes. They manu-
of its
the stumpy
by mutilating
these
tailof the John's Earth
Snake.
is in fact
There
about
talking
a
snakes.
rather uncanny
beasts
generaltendencyto exaggerate when
be admitted that they are
It must
but one must be on one's guard when
Who
has not heard marvellous
to tales of them.
listening
stories of how they fascinate their victims,yet this power
appears to be quitemythical.
Many peoplesay and believe that theyhave killed cobras
5 feet 3 inches,
6 feet long. I have never
seen
over
over
one
and Nicholson states that his largest
specimenwas 5 feet
and that
inches,,
8
were
four
oiily
over
out
5
of 1,200
feet 6
which
inches.
he
examined
There
are
authentic records of cobras
there
very few
6 feet.
measuringmore than
The length
of pythonstoo is very apt to be exaggerated,
Nicholson suggests,to the proportionately
due perhaps,
as
greatthickness of the body. The stories of pythons eating
foundation in fact.
no
goatsand deer,etc, have apparently
of
Rats and small birds are
suited to the capacity
more
the jaw of the ordinary
python.
Fearsome
tales are extant about the Hamadryad or king
cobra,and a deadlypoisonous
snake, ten or twelve feet long,
must
be
a
rather terriblebeast. Wall says it is known
and quotesa case of one
aggressive
spirit
unprovokedassault on a coolywoman, holding
on
a
most
several minutes tillit had to be beaten
off.
to show
making an
to her legfor
Nicholson says
it is very savage when watchingits
eggs and will drive away
but that at other times itis peaceable
any passers-by,
enough.
It is evident,
that the
therefore,
formidable
animal,but there is
Hamadryad is
no
excuse
a
for the
somewhat
ridiculous
59
nonsense
hears and
one
its swallowingmen
sometimes
whole
and
reads
then
about
it,such
as
twistingitself round
trees to crush the victim inside it.
Snakes
their species
by layingeggs. In some
reproduce
snakes the embryo is developed
after the egg is laid (oviparous)
in others the egg contains a perfectly
foetus
developed
and there are
various gradations
between the
(viviparous)
The term "viper"was
two.
ous
givento all venomoriginally
snakes, because it was
thought that these were all
while all harmless snakes were
viviparous
thoughtto be
known
to be erroneous.
oviparous. This is now
Many
while some
harmless snakes are viviparous
poisonous
oaes,
e.g.,the cobra,are oviparous.
At
birth the young
snake is about one-sixth of the adult
length,e.g., the cobra, adult length 66 inches,at birth
1 1 inches ; the Dhaman, adult length about 8 feet,at birth
15| inches.
Snakes grow rapidly
more
duringtheir firstyear of life,
than doublingin length.They are
said to reach maturity
at their fourth year.
Snakes
are
said to cast their skins
on
an
The loose skin on the nose
every two months.
fixed to some
objectand the snake crawls out
it,of
leaving
I think
course,
I
am
about
average
and
chin
of the
is
skin
inside out.
rightin sayingthat
all snakes
can
in the water
it must
any rate,when a snake is seen
be assumed that it is necessarily
a water
snake. Most
At
swim.
not
land
and may often be seen swimreadily
ming
in rivers and tanks. They also drink water freely.
Snakes broughtto one for examination are
frequently
much
about the head and
damaged by being hammered
body in the endeavours to killthem, A smart blow or two
with a light
in the middle of the back is generally
cane
quite
enough to finish off a snake. If caught alive it may be
snakes take
to
the water
60
killed
pipe
by
of
by
inserted
a
glass
little
plan
regards
am
I
against
in
is
to
anything
sure
mouth
;
carbolic
conclusion,
marvellous
safest
its
drops
of
from
oil
acid
means
by
throat
its
down
certainly
and
quickly
more
or
tobacco
dirty
a
pipette.
Nicholson,
the
I
a
few
a
into
passing
In
of
having
this
all
"
that
believe
the
is
would
sound
warn
the
of
eagerness
nothing
ordinary
advice.
people
native
that
you
has
to
hear
say
words
the
for
look
to
He
snakes."
concerns
in
readers,
my
"
says,
"
;
about
the
and
them,
as
APPENDIX
For the head
Wall's
Major
book.
I
of snakes
Nicholson
of those
the convenience
cue,
shields
who
I
uses
use
a
Wall's
:
his book
in addition
The
to
or
where
Prae-frontul.
Posterior
Frontal.
Vertical.
Parietal.
Occipital.
Occipital.
None.
Supra-ocular.
Super-ciliary,
Supra-labials.
Labials.
Infra-labials.
Lower
Anterior
Geneial
this
they
sublingual.
sublingual.
of the
names
frontal.
frontal.
labials.
or
gular.
Ditto.
used
for
the
head
shields
are
book.
rr^Dted
for
Nicholson's.
Anterior
in each
Wall's
names
Internasal.
remainder
and
"
Wall's.
Posterior
given in
names
different nomenclature
append the followinglist giving Nicholson's
differ from
lame
the
used
have
"it the I'ioptier Frees,
by
P. W.
BHiPWAy"
No.
218"
a8-7-'H-
the
Post
Figure
Side
view
of
the
head
2.
of
a
typical
snake
to
show
head
shields.
N
=
uaaal.
rnc.
=
Nos.
=
L
=
nostril.
loreal.
=
=
eye.
supra-ocular.
Post.
R
1,
rostral.
2,
3,
4,
5.
C,
7
=
=
E
piEc-ociiliir.
="
Sup.
T
=
post-ocular.
first,
second,
temporals.
supra-labials,
etc,
Figure
under
The
head
surface
of
the
head
3.
of
a
typical
snake
shields.
M
=
A
anterior
P
"
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
a
to
mental.
b
=.
-
sub-lingual
posterior
first,second,
mental
groove.
do.
or
chin-shield.
do.
etc., infra-labials.
to
show
Figure
of
Skin
When
visible.
the
typical
snake
is
snake,
lying
showing
on
its
back
4.
the
only
broad
that
ventrals
part
between
on
the
the
belly.
lines
is
A
V
Figure
of
Belly
V
A
S
typical
a
snake
ventral
=
=
-
anal
at
the
5.
region
of
the
shield.
shield
sub-caudal
(divided).
shield
(divided).
anus
or
venc
V
Figure
Skin
of
with
covered
The
indicated
a
typical snake,
M.
6.
showing
the
back
sides,
and
scales.
of
method
counting
the
scales
across
the
body
(1, 2, 3, etc.).
V
M
-
L
"=
V
=
the
vertebral
the
last
row
commencement
row
of scales.
of scales.
of the
ventral
shield.
is
FiatJRB
Back
enlarged.
of
the
krait
showing
7.
vertebral
of
row
scales
(V
M)
Figure
Skin
of
snake
{e.g.,
a
earth
python
or
snake)
showing
ventrals.
narrow
When
between
a
8.
the
the
lines
snake
is
is
visible.
lying
its
on
back
only
that
part
Figure
Under
surface
infra-labials,
NoiB."
The
the
of
the
fourth
d"fiuition
head
of
(4) being
of
the
last
10.
a
the
infra-labial
krait,
showing
largest.
on
page
49.
only
four
Side
view
3
of
Head
the
supra-labial
third
=
shield
C
the
=
of
cunate
and
the
shield.
a
Cobra
touching
eye.
both
the
nasal
INDEX.
Page
18
Ablabes ccdamaria
.
.
^
17
AmUycephalus monticola
47
Ancistrodon himalayanus
46
Snake
Bamboo
.
.
,
.
57
Bis-cobra
0
.
11
Blind Snakes
.
.
17
Snake
Blunt-headed
Bungarus
56
Snake
Bite of Poisonous
33
Snake
Tree
Bronze-back
"
"
.
38
arcuatus
.
"
38
caemleus
"
Cerberus
Chain
39
fascialus
"
16
rhynchops
44
Viper
.
.
Ohryaopeleaornata
34
.
.
1
Classification of Snakes
39
Cobra
40
King
"
48
to tell a
.
,
"
8
Colour
22
Coluber Helena
23
Badiatus
"
.
.
.
.
41
Coral Snakes
.
.
21
Coral-tail Snake
Cyliwirophis Bufus
Dab"da
elegant
,
Dhaman
44
,,
,
Dendrophispictm
Desert Snake
14
,
.
33
,
,
37
,.
..
.
.
24
.
,
35
Dipsadomorphm gdkool
,
.
miUtimaculatw
36
trigonatu$
35
"
,,
"
Double-headed
Snake
Thyopkis myeterizans
"
ptrroteti
"
praiinus
58
.
.
32
,.
32
,
,
33
u
Page
Echit earinata
Eggs
Eryx
,
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
59
of Snakes
12
conicua
.
,
.
.
Fangs
Golden
Tree
,,
..
..
,.
..
..
..
..
Hamadryad
.
.
Snake
,,
green
"
himalayan
olivaceous
snake,to
King-cobra
Krait,banded
,
.
.
Common
"
,
to tell a,.
,,
Lachesis
Length of
Lycodon
Snakes
..
.
tripvdiant
"
Oligodontubgriseut
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
.,
.
.
.
.
28
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
39
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
38
48
46
58
21
,,
..
.
..
..
..31
.
.
.
.
"
"
.
.
,
.
.,
40
.
.
..
..
30
.
.
.
.
81
59
.
.
28
.30
.
.
.
,
.
.
13
.
,
.
.
47
1#-
.
,
30
..
.
.
40
"
.
.
.
.,
.
.
Maeropisihodonplumhicolor
.
.
.
.,
Mental groove
Nnia bungarut
.
.
,
..
gramineiu
34
.
.
.
,
Indian
.
..
.
checkered
a
..7
.
.
..
Snako
Eeelback,Buff-striped
"
.
.
.
.
,'.
Himalayan Viper
Iridescent Earth
.
.
schistosus
Ilelicops
,,
.,13
Snake
.
John's Earth
.
.
Johnii
"
Kill
43
.
.
.
.
.,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
17
40
39
.,19
..
Fhoorsa
Pit-vipers
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
43, 45
.
.
Poison
..
..
Poisonous Snakes
..
PsammodynaateepiUvenUentui
Paammophii schokari
.
Python
Eat Snake
Red
Dhaman
..
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
Earth
Kough-tailed
.
Snaka
..
..
..
..66
..
.,
..56
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
43
.
.
..
.
,
.
.
,
37
.
,
.
36_
.
..7
..
.
.
.
.
.
24
.
.
.
.
.,15
23
lU
Page
AusaeU's Earth
Suake
Vipar
"
Snake
Water
..36
Snake, Sind
-Sand
Saw-scaled
Head
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"
...9
..
."
3, 5
.
.
.
Snake
Earth
^ort-tailed
JSilyburaocellata
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"
"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
,
amentia
.
critentatw
.
.
.
.
eyclwrut
.
.
.
,.
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
16
.
.
.Skin-casting
..
"
.
.
.
Teeth
.
.
of Snake-bite
Treatment
Snake, Bronze-back
Burmese
"
Common
"
Trinket
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
,
.
brown
platj/cepi
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
itolatiM
"
.
VariegatedKukri
.
.
..58
.
25
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Snake
.
Vipers
.
..
.
.
,
.
.
.
Wolf
green
Common
himalayan
Russell's
.
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
34
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
28
30
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
28
19
.
.
.
.
5, 8
.
.
46
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
..
..
..
.as
..
..
.,
..Si
Snake
47
..44
..
..
Buflf
..
.
.
..43
..
..
.
.
..
.
.
..
..
.
Saw-scaled
"
56
36
.
.
..
Tiper,Common
Whip Snake
6
33
Ventrals
.,
36
.
,
22
Tropidonotuspiscator
"
21
,
36
brown
Snake
"
.
..
Golden
"
.
.
.
..
..
Dhaman
Slender
"
20
,
.
3
Skeleton
"
14
.
.,21
..
..
.,
Snakes
.
,,
,.
"
.Sind Sand
.
.
.
3
-Shields,Head
Tree
.
43
.
.
.
.
6
'w-Shapeof Snakes
"
.
43
Sea-snakes
^imotes
.
..
..
"
.
.
.
.
..
..
..
Viper
Scales
..16
..
..
,.
"
..44
""
..
..
^2.
""
""
..
..
..
43
32