18 BUNGARUS. 



Bungarus fasciatus. 



This species is the " Sankni," or " Bungarum Pamah" of the Coro- 

 mandel Coast (Russell), " Raj samp" of some natives. It varies in size 

 from four to six or eight feet. Giinther describes it as follows : — " The 

 first temporal shield is scarcely larger than high ventrals 200-233 ; 

 sub-caudals, 32-36. Body with alternate broad black and yellowish 

 rings, extending across the belly ; there are from twenty-five to thirty- 

 three of these black rings round the trunk ; the first is the broadest, 

 and produced into a triangular process, the point of which rests on the 

 vertical shield. Head black anteriorly and on the sides separated from 

 the triangular process by a yellow V-like mark. Lower parts and 

 throat uniform yellow." The trigonal shape of its body with sharp 

 dorsal ridge and declining sides are noted by Russell. " The hexa- 

 gonal vertebral shield, and hard, blunt, and almost bony end of tail, are 

 very strongly marked." 



"The Bungarus fasciatus" says Sir Joseph Fayrer, "is tolerably 

 common in Bengal and in Southern India, as well as Burmah, and it is 

 also known in the North- West, where it is sometimes called ' Koclia 

 Krait.' Its bite is very dangerous, but the police returns do not show 

 that it causes many deaths ; probably because it is not so much in the 

 way of being met with as the cobra or krait. Its fangs are relatively to 

 those of the cobra very small, and its bite in dogs causes death much 

 slower than the cobra's bite. It is much less valued by the snake-men 

 than the cobra, as it does not erect its head, nor is it amenable to 

 their tuition. Dogs bitten by Bungarus fasciatus died at various periods 

 from four hours twenty-eight minutes to ten days." 



