D A B O I A. 



There is only one species of this genus — the Daboia Bussellii, Russell's 

 Viper, Tic-polonga, or Daboia elegans, or Chain Viper, Uloo Bora in and 

 around Calcutta (Fayrer) ; in Bengal, Jessur, Siah-chunder Amaiter 

 (Fayrer). Giinther's description of this viper is as follows : — " Greyish" 

 (light chocolate colour) " brown, with three series of large black, white- 

 edged rings, those of the middle series ovate, those of the outer cir- 

 cular ; sometimes very small black, white-edged ocelli are scattered 

 between the rings. A yellow line on each side of the upper surface of 

 the head, the two lines convergent on the snout. Bostral and labial 

 shields yellow, with brown margins ; a sub-triangular brown, black- 

 edged spot below the eye. Belly uniform yellowish, or marbled with 

 brownish ; generally more or less numerous semicircular brown spots on 

 the hinder margins of the ventral shields. Ventrals, 163-170 ; sub- 

 caudals, 45-60." 



I have seen it in Rajputana and Guzerat. It is said to prevail in 

 most parts of India. Fayrer says "it is probably found all over the 

 plains of India, as well as in the hills." In Kulu it has been observed 

 5000 feet high, and in Kashmir 6000 feet high, but generally not higher 

 than from 2000 to 4000 feet. According to Stoliczka, it is fond of 

 basking in sunny places. 



"It is the 'Tic-polonga' of Ceylon, and is justly dreaded there as a 

 very deadly snake. Dr. Russell describes it in his work on Indian 

 snakes under the name of ' Katuka Rekula Poda. ' He says it is not 

 as venomous as the cobra. My experiments incline me to agree with 

 Dr. Bussell, and to give it, at all events, 'a place next to the cobra. 

 Fowls bitten by this snake expired in from thirty-five seconds to several 

 minutes ; dogs in from seven minutes to several hours ; a cat in fifty- 

 seven minutes ; a horse in eleven and a half hours. Death was not in 

 any case so rapid as after the cobra bite ; but, though slower in its 



