( 219 ) 



gape. Two rows of scales next, the ventrals enlarged and 

 deflected. 



Grows to 24 inches. 



Inhabits North- Western and Central India, the Panjab and 

 Southern India, but is rare or absent in Lower Bengal. 



A very active and irascible snake. The bite of a small one 

 might not prove fatal, but that of a full grown one is no doubt 

 extremely dangerous. 



Family Crotalid^e. 



Body stout, tail moderate or short. Head broad, subtrigonal. 

 A deep pit in the loreal region. Eye moderate, with vertical 

 pupil. Oviparous or viviparous, for both methods seem to obtain 

 in this genus. 



Trimeresurus, Gunther. 



Head triansailar. Some small shields behind the rostral and 

 small superciliaries present, the rest of the head scaly. Scales 

 keeled in 17 to 27 rows. Tail prehensile. Subcaudals 

 divided. 



a. The second upper labial fovnis the front of the facial pit. 



T. gramineus, Shaw. Zool. Ill, p. 420. 

 Vipera viridis, Daud. 



T. elegans, Gray. An. & Mag., 1853, XII, p. 391. 

 (young). 

 The supranasals are separated by a small shield or a pair of 

 small shields. Scales in 19* — 21 rows, those of the head smooth 

 or faintly keeled. Ventrals 158 — 170. Subcaudals 58 — 71. 

 Colour grass green above, lighter on the sides. Tail sometimes 

 cinnamon red. A yellow or brick-red line runs from behind the 

 eye along the outer series of scales. Beneath pale greenish. 

 Grows to 32 inches. 



Inhabits Sykkim, the Khasi Hills, Assam, Pegu, the Andamans 

 (fide Blyth and Anderson), Bengal. 



Giinther also gives ' Ladak,' which is clearly absurd, and 

 Ningpo. It does not appear to occur west of Nipal. 



