322 nril.VA. ITS T'EOThK AST) I'liODCCTIOSfi. 



E. scniSTOsA, Daiid. 

 Soogli pattee, llussoll. 



Form more slender than in E. lalakadijen. Scales on the neck elongated, pointed, 

 imbricate, in 56 to 60 rows. Head more ovately ])roIonged, and thi> gape wider than in 

 the last species ; and consequently the head shields are more elongate and are all 

 smooth. Colouration as in the last. 



The two species of Enhydrina are very similar, and E. schidosa would seem to 

 be comparatively rare. Russell was the tirst to point out the distinction, wliich was 

 subsequently confirmed by Stoliczka (J.A.S.B. 1870, p. 213) and Anderson (P.Z.S.L. 

 1871, p. 193). 



E. balahadijcn abounds in tidal waters and estuaries in Burma, and is freij^uently 

 taken in fishermen's nets. 



Pelamis, Giinther. 



Head flat, with long spatulate snout. Nasal shields contiguous, pierced posteriorly. 

 Ventrals none, or very narrow. Lower jaw without a notch in front. 



P. PLATITErS, L. 



Scales impressed or concave, on the neck, in 45 to 51 rows. Scales from moutli 

 to vent 378 to 440, the lower rows sometimes spiny or tubercular in adults. Colour 

 variable, above black, below olive or yellow ; colours sharply defined and separated by 

 a yellow l)and, and sometimes with an inferior black band as well. Brown spots some- 

 times on the sides, and tail reticulated black and yellow. It also occurs yellow, with 

 black-edged brown bars across the back, the interspaces on the belly being marked 

 with vertical dark streaks. Grows to 3 feet. 



Andamans and liicobars, and Eastern seas generally. 



There are few subjects, respecting which more profound ignorance prevails, than 

 the means of determining whether a snake is poisonous or not ; for the question is 

 eminently a special one, though neither difficult nor obscure when once the few facts 

 and rules are mastered, which are necessary for the purpose. With the exception 

 of a few well-known and justly-dreaded snakes, like the Cobra, the banded Bungarun, 

 the blue Bimgarus, or Icrait, or the EusscU's viper, no native testimony in regard to 

 the poisonous or nonpoisonous character of a snake can be relied on, as natives 

 generally attribute poisonous powers to all snakes with which they are unfamiliar, 

 or which have bright colours, or a repugnant physiognomy, and are as wholly 

 guiltless of any accurate knowledge of the subject as the bulk of Europeans. 



Practically, as regards poisonous snakes which are dangerous to man, the 

 question is narrowed to the consideration of a limited number of species, since many 

 from their small size, and others from their rarity, may bo disregarded, and hence, 

 perhaps, the simplest way of learning what are poisonous snakes would be to pass 

 an hour or so in some museum where acquaintance might be made with tlio 

 commoner or more deadly species. The snakes I should characterize under this 

 head would be, Istly, the Hydrophidse, or marine snakes, possessing a flattened tail, 

 the whole of which are very deadly without exception, their fangs being small, 

 but their venom extremely potent. 2ndly, the vipers possessing tubnlar erectile 

 fangs of great length. The venom of some of these is very deadly, as in the 

 Eaboia, or RusnelVs riper, and the Javanese Calloselanma, whose bite is said to be 

 fatal to man in five minutes, which is far quicker than that of the Cobra, whilst 

 others, such as the green vipers, seem to be less dangerous, recovery general!)' 

 taking place from their bite, with merely local pain and some constitutioTial dis- 

 turbance. 3rdly, the oi-tlinary poisonous snakes, such as the gigantic llaniadrgan, 

 the Cobra, the blue Bungarux, or krait, the black and yellow banded Bunganis, and 

 some of the larger species of Callophis. 



There are only two harmless snakes wluch, froni their peculiar colouration and 

 from their also inhabiting estuaries and coasts, can be mistaken for any of the 

 poisonous family of Hydrophidas. The one, Jlipistes hydrinus, has, however, a loreul 

 shield, which at once shows its innocuous character, whilst the otlier, Chersydrus 

 granulafun, may be easily discriminated by possessing over 100 rows of scales. 



