22 



DABOIA. 



action, the poison seemed just as deadly. The blood usually remains 

 fluid after death from the poison of the Daboia (the human subject 

 perhaps being excepted) ; whereas after cobra poisoning it generally 

 coagulates firmly on being removed from the heart and great vessels. 

 The Daboia is nocturnal in its habits ; in confinement it is sluggish, and 

 does not readily strike, unless roused and irritated, when it bites with 

 great force and determination. When disturbed it hisses fiercely, and 

 when it strikes, does so with great vigour. Its long, movable fangs 

 are very prominent objects, and with them it is capable of inflicting a 

 very deep as well as poisoned wound. The markings on its body are 

 very beautiful, and justify the synonym, V. elegans. It lives on small 

 animals, such as rats, mice, and frogs. My snake-man says it will go 

 into water. It is, however, terrestrial in its habits. (It climbs trees in 

 Ceylon. — Tennant). Its loud hissing when disturbed is calculated to 

 warn those who come within its dangerous proximity. Though so deadly, 

 it does not appear by the returns to cause many deaths ; but this may 

 be owing to the fact that the natives seldom know, often do not see, 

 the snake that has inflicted the fatal wound. It is much less known, 

 and its misdeeds are therefore doubtless often ascribed to the cobra. In 

 the official returns of deaths from snake bites, a large number are 

 attributed to snakes unknown. If the real offender could be detected, 

 it is probable that the Daboia would have a more prominent place than 

 it occupies at present." — {Fay rev.) The adult varies in length from three 

 to four feet or so. 



