HYPNALE NEPA (CARAWILLA). 
This snake is found in Malabar, Anamallay Mountains, and Ceylon. 
According to Giinther the largest size is nineteen inches, the tail 
accounting for two and a half inches. Giinther describes it as follows :— 
“ Head broad, triangular; snout covered with numerous small shields 
above, the crown of the head being normally shielded. Body of moderate 
length, with keeled scales in seventeen rows. Tail rather short, not 
prehensile, terminating in a short cervical scale. Sub-caudals two- 
rowed **. Ventrals 140-152, sub-caudals 31-45 ***, Brown or grey, 
or reddish olive, with a double dorsal series of brown or black spots; 
the spots of both sides sometimes confluent into cross-bands. Sides and 
belly finely marbled and dotted with brown or black. Upper lip brown 
or black, well marked by a darker line running from behind the eye to 
the angle of the mouth; a more or less distinct white or whitish tem- 
poral streak above the dark line, sometimes continued along the side of 
- the neck, with an interrupted brown band above and below it. Chin 
and throat blackish and brownish, variegated with yellow or grey. 
Sometimes specimens occur of a more uniform coloration ; the dorsal 
spots on each side of the throat are the most constant markings, as 
described. All these varieties may be seen in the foetus taken out of 
the same female **. The carawilla is much dreaded, although its bite 
is but exceptionally fatal to man, and in such cases death does not occur 
before the lapse of some days.” Sir Joseph Fayrer says that he has 
“had no opportunity of testing by experiment the properties of this 
snake,” 
