BUNGARUS CAIRULEUS. 
This species is the krait of India. It is the “Gedi Paragoodoo” of 
Russell ; the “ Dhomun Chiti” (Bengal). Giinther describes this snake 
as follows :—‘ The first temporal shield is considerally longer than high. 
Ventrals, 201-221; sub-caudals, 38-56. Lower parts uniform white ; 
upper parts bluish or brownish-black, uniform, or with more or less 
numerous very narrow white cross streaks, not quite as broad as a scale, 
and generally radiating from a white vertebral spot. No collar.” 
Varieties. —“ a. Upper parts uniform blackish-brown; B. lividus, 
Cautor from Assam. In young specimens the head is white, with a 
black line between the occipitals. 
““B. A vertebral series of equi-distant white spots, from which narrow 
transverse streaks proceed. 
“y. Upper parts with narrow white streaks arranged in pairs: B. 
arcuatus, Dum. and Bib.” | 
It varies in size from two feet to four feet anda half. The fangs are 
smaller than those of the cobra. I have seen it in the North-West, 
Rajputana, Guzerat, Deccan, and Madras. It is found in fields, huts, 
houses, in bookcases, ledges of windows, and venetians. Fayrer mentions 
an instance “ where, after a night’s dak in a palanquin, a lady, in taking 
out her things on arriving at her destination, found a krait coiled up 
under her pillow; it had been her travelling companion all night.” It 
is often mistaken for the Lycodon aulicus, which is aninnocent snake. In 
the krait, the hexagonal scales on back, and its fangs are sufficient to 
distinguish it from the Lycodon aulicus. 
