A POPULAR TIIEA TISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 785 



embryo are already in process of formation at tlie time that the eggs 

 are extrudeil, for in an allied species in Assam (proarchns, Wall) I 

 found embryos in the eggs when laid, and noted that 1 could see the 

 head and eye and rudiment of lower jaw, and could observe the heart 

 beating. Further observations are required to ascertain if tristis lays 

 eggs in which t!ie embryos are equally well dovelopeil. 



Ijegemh. — There is a general belief among the natives of Southern 

 India that the Common Indian bronze-back is fatally poisonous. 

 Russell* records the belief as prevalent in his time, and says that his 

 snake-catcher professed to have known two men killed by it, the bite 

 producing immediate giddiness and death in two days. There is no 

 reason to reject this snake-man's story, for as I have more than once 

 remarked in these papers deaths do occur from the bites of perfectly 

 harmless snakes. Such fatalities are due to cardiac syncope due to 

 fright. In Bengal too as I am informed by Mr. E. Muir (Kalna) the 

 natives say it is very poisonous and attacks without provocation. 

 Russellt also mentions the belief among natives that this snake having 

 bitten a person ascends a tree near the pyre to watch with vindictive 

 satisfaction the smoke rising from the corpse of its victim, after 

 which it descends. I heard this same story in Ceylon, but was never 

 able to discover exactly which snake it was that was credited with this 

 malignant spirit. Dr. J. R. Henderson tells me the belief is still 

 prevalent in Southern India, and he has known a mock funeral with 

 an effigy organised to save the bitten subject, for when the snake 

 descends from the tree the poison it is supposed to have injected 

 leaves the body, and the otherwise doomed person recovers. 



In Cannanore there was another strange belief among the natives 

 who said that this snake could thrust its tail into the ground, 

 balance thereon, and assume the form of a bow, hence their name for 

 it " villoonie " I'rom " villoo " a bow. I was never able to understand 

 with what object it is supposed to evince this strange behaviour. 



Distribution. (A) Geograjj/iical. — The evidence at my command 

 [)oints to this being undoubtedly the common species to be found in 

 the Indian Peninsular and I believe it exists here to the exclusion of 

 Dendropliis pictus as far East as Bengal. My earlier notes on the 

 species are unfortunately deficient in the matter of precise colour, 

 and marldngs, but I oan say with certainty that this is the snake I 

 ♦ Luc cit., Vol. il, p. Hi). t l-oc. cit., Vol. 11, p. 3J. 



