68 



well in captivity. I therefore append a brief 

 description. 



Gongylophis Coniciis. 



Head triangular, and covered with small 

 scales, 12 to 14 upper labials ; scales very strongly 

 keeled ; ventrals 168-176 ; anal entire, and sub- 

 caudals 17-24 single. 



Colour, light grey, with a dark, wide zigzag 

 pattern along the back, and covering most of the 

 body. Ventrals white. Length two feet. 



This snake eats rats and mice, constricts its 

 prey, and in general habits resembles the python, 

 even in its love for water. Visible vestiges of hind 

 legs are found in the male but not in the female. 

 The Gongylophis is found in most parts of India, 

 and snake-charmers often amputate the end of the 

 tail and show the snake as a "two-headed serpent." 



The Viperldae. 



Viper a Russellii (Viperinae). 



Head triangular, snout obtuse, nostrils large 

 between three shields, a narrow, supra-ocular shield, 

 head covered with small, strongly-keeled scales, 

 II or 12 upper labials, scales strongly keeled and 

 in 27-31 rows, ventrals 163-172, anal entire, sub- 

 caudal s 45-60 in two rows. 



Colour, brown, with a black, chain-like pattern 

 The along the back, and blotches along the sides, 



vipendae. yentrals white or cream-coloured, andoften spotted. 

 Length about 4 ft. 6 in. (adult). 



The Vipera Rusellii utters a peculiar long- 

 drawn cry at night, which may be of almost any 

 note in the scale. The bite of this viper is very 

 deadly. It is nocturnal and ovoviviparous. A 

 specimen that I kept in captivity bore 22 young ; 

 one alive, nine dead, but free from the egg coverings 

 and twelve still in their eggs. 



