136 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



eye provided with a vertically elliptical pupil, is remarkable 

 for many of its members resembling, in a most striking 

 manner, not only externally, but also in their large and 

 recurved fang-like teeth, the very poisonous snakes of the 

 Indian genus Bungarus ; they may, however, be dis- 

 tinguished by the presence of a shield separating the nasal 

 from the eye (the Ureal), this shield being absent in all 

 venomous Indian species of the Colubrine tribe. 



In disposition these snakes vary considerably, some being 

 bold and ferocious, whilst others will not bite, however 

 much they are provoked. 



The Indian Wolf Snake, Lycodon aulicus, which is 

 constantly being confounded with the much dreaded 

 Krait, Bungarus cceruleus, and which it superficially re- 

 sembles both in form and coloration, inhabits India, Ceylon, 

 Burma, and the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. It 

 is dark brown in colour, with whitish markings, which are, 

 as in the case of the Common Krait, generally disposed in 

 cross bands. The Wolf Snake is peculiar in being particu- 

 larly abundant in the neighbourhood of dwellings, and 

 frequently makes its home in the holes in the loose brick- 

 work of buildings, in which it remains during the daytime. 

 According to Major Wall, not only does it frequent houses 

 such as are occupied by Europeans, but it often obtrudes 

 itself into such densely populated parts as the bazaars, or 

 the business quarters of many of the large Indian cities. 

 Although usually very sluggish during the daytime, captive 

 specimens, when provoked, become most active, and will 

 attack with much courage. Being more or less nocturnal 

 in the wild state. Geckos constitute their principal article 

 of food. Wall Lizards make a good substitute in the case 



