PREFACE, 



Major Beddome's papers in the Madras Journal of Medical 

 Science; Mr. Theobald's papers in the Journal of the 

 Linnean Society and that of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 

 In the latter Society's Journal and in the Annals and 

 Magazine of Natural History a mass of ophiological infor- 

 mation is scattered. I cannot omit to mention Russell's 

 Account of Indian Serpents, 1796 ; however antique and 

 unfitted for the guidance of the student, it will always be of 

 interest as the work of a pioneer in Indian zoology. 



The First Edition of this Manual was sadly deficient in 

 illustrations. This has been repaired by the addition of 

 plates, which in every case reproduce drawings taken by me 

 from specimens or dissections. As illustrative of the physio- 

 logical part and aiding in the recognition of the principal 

 kinds of snakes, I trust that they will be found to answer 

 their purpose. 



E. N. 

 Bangalore, April 1874. 



