ON COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 91 



former the belly shields (ventriils) iire ungulate, in the latter they 

 are not. The former grows to 2-^- feet, the latter to less than 1^. 

 Whilst both are common in Peninsula India and Ceylon, the former 

 extends East beyond the longitude of Calcutta, the latter does not. 

 To sum up, the essential points in identification are (1) a loreal touching 

 the internasal, (2) scale rows 17 in midbody, (3; nasal touching the 

 1st and 2nd labials and (4) 9 supralabials. 



Haunts. — Of all the snakes that seem to seek out, and profit by a 

 human environment the Common Wolf-.Snake is the most conspicuous. 

 I should think that fully half the snakes met with inside habita- 

 tions throughout India would prove to be this species, and it 

 certainly is far more frequently encountered inside bungalows, and 

 outhouses than outside them. Not only is it a very frequent 

 tenant of houses such as those occupied by the European population 

 in Cantonments, but it frequently obtrudes itself into densely 

 populated parts, such as bazaars, native towns, jails, etc., and is no 

 rarity in the business quarters of our large Indian cities. [ not in- 

 frequently have one brought in from the regimental lines, bazaars 

 and jails, and have had it from inside regimental and Cantonment 

 hospitals. Mr. Millard tells me he has " frequently had specimens 

 sent to the Museum which have been killed in houses in the Fort 

 at Bombay." Like many other snakes it likes to insinuate itself 

 into the crevices of loose brickwork such as the foundations 

 and walls of buildings. Here it conceals itself during the day 

 emerging at nightfall in quest of food. Along the outer walls 

 skirting the jail at Canuanore I rarely passed without finding the 

 sloughs of this snake issuino- from holes in the face of the 

 masonry, and have often found it in similar situations elsewhere. 



In bouses it very frequently climbs into the roof, and I have 

 several times known or had specimens sent me which had dropped 

 on to the floors of rooms, verandahs, barracks, etc. 



Disposition. — The Common Wolf-Snake is a very lively little 

 customer, which usually on being discovered slips away hastily 

 if circumstances permit. If pursued, or any attempt made to catch 

 it, or obstruct its path it strikes out boldly without hesitation 

 planting its teeth into whatever thwarts its progress, and I have been 

 bitten many times in trying to effect its capture. If in the open, 

 and baulked in its endeavours to escape it will frequently coil itself 



