42 



THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



motUicola. 



HEA.D COVERED WITH SMALL SCALES {see Fig. 28). 



UPRAOCULARS UNDIVIDED (see S, Fig. 26). 

 2nd sdpralaeial distinct feom loreal 



PIT (see Fig, 28) Lachem strigaius 



2nd SUPRALABIAL WITH A FURROW IN ITS 

 UPPER PART DIRECTED INTO LOREAL PIT 



(gee Fig. 27). 

 MANY SMALL SUBOCOLAR SCALES 



(«ee Fig. 29). 



AN ELOXGATE SUBOCULAR 

 SHIELD (see So, Fig. 26). 

 SCALES 21 or 19 IN POSTERIOR 

 BODY [see Fig. 7). 

 Nasal and 1st supralabial partially 

 or completely united (see Fig. SO). 

 Scales in midbodij 29 rows (see 



Fig. 7) 



„ „ „ 27 to 23 rows. 



Nasal and 1st supralabial distinct 



(see Fig. 33) 



SCALES 17 OR lo IN POSTERIOR BODY 

 (see Fig. 7.) 



Supralabials 7 or 8 (see Fig. 33) 



9 to 12 (see Fig. 3 1) 



SUPRAOCULARS DIVIDED {see S, Fig. 35.) 



Subocular touching 3rd supralabial (see So, 



Fig. 35) ... 

 „ not ,, „ „ (see So, Fig. 



36) 



cantoris, 

 purpureomacvlatus. 



mucrosquamatus. 



jerdoni. 

 gramineus. 



trigonocephalus. 



„ anamallensis. 



AXTCISTBODOIT EIMALA7A17T7S-T]ic Common Himalayaa Viper. 



Identification. — Tho top of the head has the shields in front enlarged, 

 and the scales in the middle of the hody are arranged in 21 to 23 rows. 

 These combined characters will distipguish this from the other pit- 

 vipers, and even if the head is badly mutilated short of dissolution, 

 I think the enlarged head shiolJs will ho generally clearly recognized. 



Distribution. — It is confined to the Himalayan region, including the 

 Khasi Hills of Assam, at altitudes between 5,000 to 10,000 feet, and is 

 exceedingly common in some localities (Lidda Valley, Kashmir). 



Poison. — In spite of its abundance I only know one authentic record 

 of a bite inflicted by this species. A collector of Mr. P. W. Mackinnon's 

 was wounded in trying to capture one near Mussoorio. 



