530 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY , Vol. XVIII. 



The sudden and unexpected introduction to this or any other snake 

 under such circumstances detracts much from the pleasures of birds' 

 nesting in this country. 



I have occasionally known it come into the house. The late Mr. 

 L. C. H. Youug reported one in this Journal* which he found 

 moving round his dinner table, and in Trichinopoly I once found one 

 which had climbed on to the top of my verandah chick. 



Mr. Millard writes to me : " It moves very rapidly when it wishes 

 to escape by almost throwing itself from its tail." I have not seen 

 the Echis manifest such activity, but believe that most snakes can 

 do so when making their utmost endeavours to escape. I have 

 certainly seen the Russell's viper do so, and many other snakes. I 

 can find no better way of describing the muscular effort than as 

 a jump. As a rule I have found the Echis maintain its ground, and 

 when closely approached start rubbing its flanks together with great 

 assiduity. 



Disposition.' — This is the most vicious snake I know. Not only 

 is it extremely apt to bite on the smallest provocation, but strikes 

 out without hesitation, and with great malice. These disagreeable 

 traits in its character and the extreme velocity with which it delivers 

 its stroke combine to make it a most dangerous reptile to meet un- 

 awares, or to have any dealings with when fully on the " qui-vive" 

 either in effecting capture, or whilst in captivity. The lightning-like 

 rapidity with which it strikes, delivers its bite, and regains its former 

 attitude, must be witnessed to be fully 'appreciated. The manner in 

 which it exactly resumes the position it occupied before striking, which 

 is characteristic, has left me sometimes wondering whether a stroke 

 had been delivered at all, or my senses had deceived me. 



Theobold f calls it " a very active, and irascible snake, " and Mr. 

 F. Gleadow J says "it is the smartest striker I know when it means 

 business. " Fayrer § says : " The Echis is very fierce and aggressive — 

 it is always on the defensive, ready to attack : it throws itself into 

 a double coil, the folds of which are in perpetual motion, and as 

 they rub against each other they make a loud rustling sound very 

 like hissing* * * . It is very active, and can dart a consi- 

 derable distance — a foot or more — to strike its prey : it is by far 



* Vol. XVI, p. 504. 

 t Kept. Brit. Ind., 1876, p. 219. J In Epistola. § Thanotoph v Ind., p. 16. 



