THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 



45 



(4) V. russeUii (Daho'ia, or liiisselVs Viper). (Fig. '28.) — This 

 viper, which may attain a length of as much as 2,000 niilHmetres, 

 is magnificently coloured. Its dorsal surface is brownish-yellow, 



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Fig. 28. — Vipera russellii {Syn. Vipera elegans. Daboia, or Russell's Viper). India. 



(After Sir Joseph Fayrer.) 



marked with large oval spots of blackish-brown, edged with yellow 

 or white. The belly is covered with transverse bands, wuth beautiful 

 triangular black spots, bordered with white. The head, w'hich is 

 long, ends in front in a thick, rounded snout ; it is covered above 



