48 



VENOMS 



(d) Echis. 



Echis cariiiatus (the Phoorsa). (Fig. 30). — This viper is charac- 

 terised by the subcaudal shields being arranged in a single row. 

 It is savage and very aggressive, being always ready to attack. Its 

 length does not exceed 600 millimetres at the most. The colour 

 of the body is grey, more or less dark and adorned with streaks, 

 spots, and dots of blackish-brown. The back displays yellowish- 



FiG. 30. — Ecliis carinatns. India. (After Sir Joseph Fayrer.) 



white wavy lines, forming X-shaped markings. The upper side 

 of the head exhibits a yellow spot surrounded by brown, and other 

 small black spots, the whole arrangement forming a fairly good 

 representation of a cross. 



This species is found in India, Persia, Baluchistan, Arabia, and 

 Palestine ; while, as we shall see, it also occurs in Africa. It is 

 fairly common in the environs of Aden. 



