Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 123 



sides of the head. The oval gular scales have a tubercular appearance. 

 The integuments of the head and body are remarkably lax, like those 

 of Acrochordus javanicus. The neck is covered by 31, the trunk by 

 2/ longitudinal series of ovate or conical scales; they are not imbricate, 

 but are frequently surrounded by the naked skin. The tail is prehensile, 

 but less so than in the preceding species. The malayan individuals 

 appear to be less numerous than the Javanese. The four observed 

 were all found on the ground in valleys, The largest, which had been 

 feeding on a rat, was of the following dimensions : 



Length of the head, ft. If inch. 



Ditto ditto trunk, 2 5f 



Ditto ditto tail, 5-f 



^ 



3 ft. Of inch. 

 Circumference of the neck, 2, of the trunk, 3%, of the root of the tail, 

 If inch. 



In general sluggish, but when roused, ferocious habits, the preceding 

 three species resemble the genus Bung ar us ; their mode of attack is 

 also similar : like Vipera msselli, (Shaw)* when it prepares to dart, 

 they vibrate the prehensile tail, and utter a faint hissing sound. As the 

 pupil is vertically contracted by the light, they frequently miss their 

 aim, and like Bungarus, Naja, Vipera russelli and Hydras, in the 

 extreme of fury, they will fix the fangs in their own bodies. Although 

 they are aveise to motion, they are not of quite so stationary habits as 

 represented by M. Schlegel, {Essay : Partie Descriptive, page 520.) In 

 the jungle I have noticed them moving between the branches of trees 

 or on the ground, either in search of prey, or after heavy rains have 

 flooded their hiding places. In Bengal most terrestrial serpents keep 

 the latter during the hot season, but the rains send them abroad in 

 search of dry localities. Although the present genus has venomous 

 organs, as highly developed as Crotalus or Vipera, the effects produced 

 by wounds of two species at least, appear to be less dangerous, than 

 might a priori be supposed. According to Russell's experiments with 

 the venom of Trigonocephalies gramineus, chickens expired within 8 to 

 33 minutes, pigeons in 11 to 18 minutes. A pig recovered in G or 



* Syn.— Russell, I. PI. 7. Katuha RekulaPoda, II. PL 32.— Coluber russellii, Shai 

 I ij ra elegans, Daudin. 



