DABOTA. 
There is only one species of this genus—the Daboia Russell, Russell's 
Viper, Tic-polonga, or Daboia elegans, or Chain Viper, Uloo Bora in and 
around Calcutta (Fayrer); in Bengal, Jessur; Siah-chunder Amaiter 
(Fayrer). Giinther’s description of this viper is as follows :—‘‘ Greyish” 
(light chocolate colour) ‘‘ brown, with three series of large black, white- 
edged rings, those of the middle series ovate, those of the outer cir- 
cular; sometimes very small black, white-edged ocelli are scattered 
between the rings. A yellow line on each side of the upper surface of 
the head, the two lines convergent on the snout. Rostral and labial 
shields yellow, with brown margins; a sub-triangular brown, black- 
edged. spot below the eye. Belly uniform yellowish, or marbled with 
brownish ; generally more or less numerous semicircular brown spots on 
the hinder margins of the ventral shields. Ventrals, 163-170; sub- 
caudals, 45-60.” 
I have seen it in Rajputana and Guzerat. It is said to prevail in 
most parts of India. Fayrer says “it is probably found all over the 
plains of India, as well as in the hills.” In Kulu it has been observed 
5000 feet high, and in Kashmir 6000 feet high, but generally not higher 
than from 2000 to 4000 feet. According to Stoliczka, it is fond of 
basking in sunny places. 
“Jt is the ‘Tic-polonga’ of Ceylon, and is justly dreaded there as a 
very deadly snake. Dr. Russell describes it in his work on Indian 
snakes under the name of ‘ Katuka Rekula Poda.’ He says it is not 
as venomous as the cobra. My experiments incline me to agree with 
Dr. Russell, and to give it, at all events, a place next to the cobra. 
Fowls bitten by this snake expired in from thirty-five seconds to several 
minutes ; dogs in from seven minutes to several hours; a cat in fifty- 
seven minutes; a horse in eleven and a half hours. Death was not in 
any case so rapid as after the cobra bite; but, though slower in its 
