XIII 



ELAPINAE 



633 



The Eev. G. Fisk l mentions the case of two young " Eirighals," 

 of 10 and 9 inches in length, having been attacked and partly 

 devoured by a mouse, supposed to be Dendromys melanotis, which 



MED 



FIG. 169. Sepedon haemachates (the "Ringhals "). x |. 



was put with the snakes in a band-box. On the habits of the 

 Ringhals see Symonds. 2 



Bungarus. The scales are smooth, and form thirteen to 

 seventeen rows. The spine is very prominent, and the median 

 row of scales which covers the ridge is much enlarged. There is 

 no dilatable hood. In other respects Bungarus is closely allied 

 to Naja ; about half-a-dozen species, in South-Eastern Asia. 



B. fasciculus reaches a length of 5 feet. The general colour 

 is bright yellow, alternating with blackish rings. 



B. coeruleus s. candidus is the dreaded " Krait," occurring in 

 the whole of the Indian sub-region. It is dark brown or bluish 

 black with narrow cross-bars or white specks, or it is alternately 

 barred brown and yellow ; the under parts are uniform white. 

 Total length rarely 4 feet. 



The " Krait " seems to cause more deaths in India than any 

 other snake, since it is very common, especially in Bengal and in 

 1 P.Z.S. 1887, p. 340. 2 P.Z.S. 1887, p. 489. 



