A POPULAR TREATISE ON INDIAN SNAKES. 5 



especially enhancing the beauty of the specimen, as may be judged 

 from our plate. Mr. Millard tells me that about Bombay adult 

 specimens do not have this white definition to the spots, and he is in- 

 clined to regard it as a distinct variety. I have satisfied myself 

 that specimens are to be met with in most parts, including Bombay, 

 with and without this white adornment. To begin with, I found in 

 some hatchlings of the same brood born in this Society's Museum, and 

 preserved in spirit, some individuals with and some without the 

 white delineament. Davy, already quoted, remarks that white margins, 

 to the spots may or may not be evident in Ceylon specimens. In 

 a mother I referred to in a note in this Journal* from Saugor, the 

 spots had no light margins, though the single embryo had spots 

 picked out with pale buff. Again, a specimen figured by Russellf 

 obtained from Bombay has no suspicion of a light outline to the 



spots. 



The belly is white, whitish, or yellowish, with darkish semilunes 

 distributed sparsely, and disposed at the margins of the ventrals, espe- 

 cially in the fore body. 



Identification. — Consideration must be given to the following points, 

 all of which must coexist : — 



(1) Head covered above with small scales throughout, similar 



to those on the back. 



(2) No aperture between the eye and the nostril. 



(3) Subcaudals divided. 



(4) No ridges on the ventrals. 



(5) 3 series of large dorsal spots. 



It may seem unnecessary to many to insist on this method of identi- 

 fication. Many I know who consider themselves knowledgeable on snake 

 matters, would take it as a reproach to their intelligence to suppose they 

 cannot rely on colour and marks alone ; however I have known mis- 

 takes occur, and very positive opinions expressed erroneously with 

 regard to this species. More than one officer in China was very positive 

 that they had captured Russell's viper in their camp at Shanghai, pub- 

 lishing letters with some heat in the local paper when their opinions were 

 repudiated. The specimen which I subsequently examined proved 

 to be the common Chinese Viper (Ancistrodon blomhoffii). I have seen 

 a young pvthon (molnrus) identified as a daboia, and failed to convince 

 * Vol. XVJ, p. 374. f In ~. Serp., Vol. II, p ate XXXII. 



