«^ 



/• 



108 



Anal and subeaudals entire. Oue or two teeth bebind the 

 poison-fang. 



B. CiERULEUS, Schneider. B. arcuatus, D. and B. The 



Indian Bungarus. Plate XIX, fig. 1. 



Ventrals 201-221, subc. 38-56. Upper parts jet black; 

 lower parts white, throwing white arches over the back. 

 (Hence B. arcuatus is a far preferable name, as there is not 

 the slightest cserulean colour about the snake). The first 

 arch is generally an incomplete collar, the next three are 

 single ; then they divide into pairs, of which there are about 

 30. This normal pattern is subject to variation ; sometimes 

 the arches remain single, and in one variety are incomplete. 

 This snake grows to about 4 feet long, but is rarely found 

 above 2 feet, tail one-eighth ; young specimens are very 

 handsome. It is found in most parts of India, but is rare 

 in Burma, where it is replaced by the following : — 



B. FASCI AXH^, Schneider. The Malayan Bungarus. Plate 

 XIX, figs. 2 & 2a. 36 



Ventrals 200-233, subc. 23-37. Tail very short and 

 stumpy, even swollen at the tip. Body of triangular section ; 

 spinous processes t)f vertebrae very prominent. Black, with 

 about 20 yellow cross-bands completely encircling the body 

 and tail. Head black, with a }• ellow >■ converging upwards 

 from the throat. Grows to above 6 feet Ion 2^. Common in 

 Burma ; specimens are found along the coast of Chittagong 

 and Orissa.* 



B. CEYLON icus, Gthr. 



Similar to the first species, but with complete black rings 

 and narrow white intervals. 



* The Malayan fauna creeps up the Chittagong coast and down the 



Coromandel coast. Thus specimens of Ophiopluigu^ and Bungarus 



fasdatus are found as far south as G an jam and the JVaga monocellata 



has spread into Bengal and the Central Provinces. The converse 



invasion is rare. 



