CORRESPONDENCE. 85 



THE ECHIS CARINATA AND ITS DESTRUCTION. 



To the Editor, "Bombay Natural 77 'i story Society." 



Dear Sir, — I have read with much interest Mr. Vidal's paper on " Mortality 

 from Snakes in the Bomhay Presidency." He makes special reference to the 

 snake called " Phursa" in the Ratnagiri district. It may interest you to hear 

 some facts which came to my notice when Collector of Ratnagiri. 



Below Ratnagiri lies the large taluka of Deogad, which extends from the sea to 

 the line of ghAts- It comprises many miles of waste rocky country, and here more 

 especially it is that the Phursa breeds. I made particular enquiry and ascertained 

 that in April, May and June the young are born, but they are difficult to find. 

 Although I offered a reward of half an anna per Phursa in these early months, no 

 one would take the trouble to look for them. In August and September the Mhars 

 go out with long sticks, to which forks are attached, and catch them in thousands, 

 bringing them into Deogad in baskets, and exhibiting them at the Mamla kacheri, 

 where three pies Government reward is paid for each Phursa, whose head is then cut 

 off to prevent any roguery on the part of the natives. I cannot say for how many 

 mouths longer the Mhars would or could have gone on catching these Phursas, for 

 the funds placed at my disposal always came to an end before theclose of November. 



I remember once being in a predicament on this account. I was encamped at 

 Deogad, and found the Kacheri surrounded by angry Mhars demanding the Govern- 

 ment reward, and insisting on placing before me baskets of defunct Phursas which 

 smelt strongly. My funds being exhausted, I, of course, failed to satisfy them. I 

 took the precaution to advise the Mamlatdar to go home warily with a lantern 

 lest out of revenge they might strew his path with still living Phursas. 



The rate of mortality is small when we consider that from two to three lakhs of 

 snakes are killed during only four months in the year, and that for the remaining 

 eight months the Phursas are unmolested. This may account for the fact that 

 the Phursas in this district do not decrease, and that the figure of death-rate from 

 snake bites differs but little from year to year. As a matter of fact there is but 

 little necessity for people to go into the jungles where the Phursas are mostly 

 to be found, otherwise we should certainly hear of many more deaths. If I 

 remember aright, I never had more than Rs. 3,000 a year placed at my disposal 

 for the whole district as rewards both for slaughter of wild animals and of snakes, 

 and I could very easily have spent double this sum in the Deogad taluka alone. 

 If our Society takes up the question and places in a clear light the necessity for 

 exterminating the Phursa, it might be urged upon Government to spare Rs. 5,000 

 for the purpose, or some philanthropic person might advance the money as a work 

 of Dharm. The measures taken should be systematic and thorough, under 

 reliable supervision, and the work of extermination should last from August to 

 February at least. It will then be a matter of wonder how many thousands of 

 Phursas meet their death. — I am, &c, 



R. E. CANDY, C. S. 



Sholapur, January 1800. 



