i66 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



The Kraits are very quiet creatures, never biting unless 

 seriously molested, and w^hen attacked do not attempt to 

 retreat, but merely hide their heads under the coils of their 

 body. They feed principally on other snakes, and will 

 devour specimens as large as themselves ; frogs and toads 

 are occasionally accepted. 



The Common Krait, B. candidus, is dark brown or 

 bluish-black above, with narrow, transverse white streaks 

 or with small white spots, or alternately barred with dark 

 brown and white. It has a remarkably wide distribution, 

 inhabiting the grassy plains of India, Burma, Southern 

 China, and the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. Major 

 Wall says that it seems to be most abundant in populated 

 districts, and frequently domiciles itself, for choice, in 

 human habitations. Sir Joseph Fayrer mentions an in- 

 stance where, after a night's journey in a palanquin, a lady, 

 in taking out her things on arrival at her destination, found 

 a large Krait, which had been her travelling companion all 

 night, coiled up under her pillow. Although it rarely 

 inflicts a bite, when it does so, unless proper measures are 

 instantly taken, the result is likely to be fatal. A case has 

 been recorded concerning four men who allowed them- 

 selves to be bitten by a three-foot-long Krait, under the 

 impression that the snake was harmless. Bitten at night- 

 fall, three died before dawn, while the fourth expired 

 at noon the next day. The Common Krait, which grows 

 to a maximum length of four feet, is said to attain a greater 

 length in the northern parts of its habitat than in the 

 southern. The eggs, eight to twelve to a clutch, are 

 deposited in April and May ; the mother has been 

 observed to remain coiled round them until they are 

 ready to hatch. 



