( MAP. Will. SOME I >l HER A.NIM 



character is not available and several harmless snakes inflate 

 their necks verj considerably. Scale characters are therefore ol 

 importance ind the cobra carries .i uniquely characteristic identi- 

 I'u ation-mark in the shape of a small wedge-shaped (cuneate) scale 

 between the fourth and fifth infralabials (the row ol si 

 bordering the lower lip, counted from the front backwards, 

 remembering that the anterior, unpaired scale is the mental and 

 not an infralabial). The scales bordering the front ol the eye on 

 each side art' also in direct contact with the pair oi scales lying 

 between those in which the nostrils are placed. It neither of these 

 charai ters oc« ur, the snake cannot be a cobra. 



The King Cobra or Hamadryad ( Naja bungarus) occurs in all the 

 Hdl Districts and may reach a length of over 1 5 feet. It has .1 

 small hood but is best recognised by the presence oi a pair of large 



iMtal shields in contact with one another and forming a sixth 

 set ol large head-scales counting from the nose along the middle 

 line. The anterior subcaudals are undivided, the posterioi ones 

 divided into two rows, whilst the vertebrals are not enlarged. 



The Echis (Echis carinata) is common throughout the plains, 

 often abundant in sandy places. The Trichinopoly District and 

 the Guindy Race-Course are well-known localities and 1 have 

 found it in Bella ry and seen it brought in at Bangalore. This small 

 viper rarely exceeds a length of 2 feet, but it is extremely poisonous 

 and fatalities from its bite are numerous in districts where it is 

 common. When disturbed or discovered it has a curious habit of 

 throwing itself rapidly from one side to another, whilst remaining 

 in a loose coil, SO that the scales rub over one another and produce 

 a loud hissing sound. This snake is easily recognised by the facts 

 that (1) the top of the head is covered with small scales similar to 

 those found on the body, and (2) the sub. audals, or scales beneath 

 the tail, are entire ami form only a single row. 



The Russell's Viper (Vipera russellii), so named in hono 

 Dr. Patrick Russell whose work on South Indian Snakes, published 

 in i;<)<>, still remains a standard book on the subject, is unfortu- 

 nately only too common throughout Madras. Its coloration, with a 

 triple row of light-edged spots down the back, is distinctive, but it 

 is bett.r identified 1» the facts that, as in Echis, the top of the head 



Overed with small scales, whilst unlike Echis, the subcaudals. ,„ 

 scales beneath the tail, are divided down the middle to form a 

 double row. The bite of this snake is fatal toman and don 

 animals; otherwise the Russell's Viper is a most useful snake. 



ling entirely on rats and mice. It is a sluggish animal, as a rule, 

 hissing loudly when disturbed but slow to wrath, but when it 

 strike it darts like a Hash and often retains its grip. 



