608 



NOTES ON SNAKES COLLECTED IN UPPER ASSAM. 



BY 



Major F. Wall, lm.s., c.m.z.s. 



During nearly two years' residence in Assam 1 collected 615 snakes 

 representing 37 different species. This does not include the collection 

 of 264 snakes I made in the Khasi Hills in the hot weather of 1907. 



To be accurate I spent but 17 months in the Plains of Assam being 

 stationed at Dibrugarh all this time. 



Nearly all my specimens were collected in and around Dibrugarh 

 by my own efforts, aided by the substantial help of many Planter 

 friends. In addition to those living close at hand T received help from 

 others at a distance, and my thanks are especially due to Mr. Cyril 

 Gore of Jaipur (Namsang), Mr. Stevens and Dr. Elmes of North 

 I^akhimpur (Dejoo and Joyhing), and Mr. J. H. Bandock of Tinsukia, 

 (Rangagara). 



Dibrugarh is situated on the South bank of the Brahmaputra, at an 

 elevation of 360 feet above sea level. The nearest Hills are the Abar 

 Hills, which are part of, or at any rate, conterminous with, the Hima- 

 layas. These hills are about 25 miles distant. The Tippum Hills on 

 the North of the Dihing River, and the Patkoi Range to the South of 

 that river lie to the South-East of Dibrugarh, their nearest points 

 being some 35 miles distant. 



The average annual rainfall is 114*99 inches. This is distribttted 

 over several months in the year, unlike what obtains in India. Thus 

 in the hot weather instead of the scorching drought of India, rain falls 

 plentifully at spasmodic intervals, separated by spells of a few days 

 fine weather. The result is a very humid atmosphere, and a most 

 luxurious vegetation. The cold weather is pleasant, fires are a neces- 

 sity from about November to February, and it often freezes at night. 

 During these months few snakes were about, though plentiful during 

 other parts of the year. 



It will be seen from the annexed register, which is made out in 

 tabular form that of the 615 specimens 555 were harmless and 60 

 poisonous. There were thus 2 poisonous snakes in every 20. 



No case of snake poisoning came to my knowledge, and on making- 

 enquiries at the Civil Hospital I was told that no ease of snake poison- 

 ino- had ever been treated there. 



