22 DABOIA. 
action, the poison seemed just as deadly. The blood usually remains 
fluid after death from the poison of the Daboia (the human subject 
perhaps being excepted); whereas after cobra poisoning it generally 
coagulates firmly on being removed from the heart and great vessels. 
The Daboia is nocturnal in its habits; in confinement it is sluggish, and 
does not readily strike, unless roused and irritated, when it bites with 
great force and determination. When disturbed it hisses fiercely, and 
when it strikes, does so with great vigour. Its long, movable fangs 
are very prominent objects, and with them it is capable of inflicting a 
very deep as well as poisoned wound. The markings on its body are 
very beautiful, and justify the synonym, V. e/egans. It lives on small 
animals, such as rats, mice, and frogs. My snake-man says it will go 
into water. It is, however, terrestrial in its habits. (It climbs trees in 
Ceylon.—Tennant). Its loud hissing when disturbed is calculated to 
warn those who come within its dangerous proximity. Though so deadly, 
it does not appear by the returns to cause many deaths; but this may 
be owing to the fact that the natives seldom know, often do not see, 
the suake that has inflicted the fatal wound. It is much less known, 
and its misdeeds are therefore doubtless often ascribed to the cobra. In 
the official returns of deaths from snake bites, a large number are 
attributed to snakes unknown. If the real offender could be detected, 
it is probable that the Daboia would have a more prominent place than 
it occupies at present.”—(/uyrer.) The adult varies in length from three 
to four feet or so. 
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