A POPULAR TREATISE ON INDIAN SNAKES. 543 



ate widely different, and if proper attention is directed to the arrangement 

 of the shields and scales no Gonfusion of the two is likely to be made. 



Nomenclature ; (a) Scientific. — The generic name is derived from the 

 Greek " drus," a bush, and " ophis," snake. The specific designation 

 is from the Greek " mucteriso," I turn up the nose, and refers to the 

 character of its snout. 



(b) English. — The common green whipsnake is the name it is 

 familiarly known by, and is very appropriate. 



(e) Vernacular. — In India it is known by the Tamils as "kankuttee 

 pamboo," meaning "eye-poking snake"; and "pachai pamboo" or 

 " green snake." 



On the Malabar Coast it is Galled " pachola pambu," which means 

 cocoanut leaf snake. In Telegu it is called " pasarika pamoo," meaning 

 green snake, u botla pasarika," spotted green snake, and " pastiletti" 

 (Russell). In Ceylon the Singhalese call it " ehetula " or " esgulla," 

 which Mr. E. E. Green writes me means eye-plucker, i.e., " ehe, " 

 plural "es" = eye, and " ugulanawa" = to pluck out. In Burma 

 it is known as " my we sein," i.e., green snake, and " mywe sein mye 

 she," 'long-tailed green snake. Mr. Flower says it is called " nga 

 kee-o pah-king-kop" by the Siamese. Both Burmese and Siamese 

 apply these names equally to Dryophis prasinus, and the Burmese also 

 to Coluber prasinus and Lachesis gramineus. 



Dimensions. — My largest specimen taped 5 feet 7-§ inches, but a more 

 usual length for adults is between 4 and 5 feet. Gunther and Theobald 

 say it grows to more than 6 feet. Gunther* says it appears to remain 

 smaller in Ceylon, and mentions 40 inches as the largest measurement 

 known to him from that island. The young when born, according to 

 a note by Mr. Ferguson f at Travancore, taped 17 inches. Mr. E. 

 E. Green,t however, speaking of a Ceylon specimen, said thatitsyoung 

 were 350 mm. (i.e., 13|") at birth. These measurements seem to 

 substantiate Giinther's observation. 



Bodily configuration. — The head, which is long and narrow, ends in a 

 fleshy pointed snout, and a prominent elevated ridge extends from this 

 to the eyebrow. The eye, which is set laterally, has also a decided 

 inclination forwards. The iris is a beautiful bright golden colour 

 throughout. The pupil is horizontal and elongate in outline with a 



* Kept. Brit. Ind., p. 306. f Bom. N. H. Boc. Jour., Vol. X, p. 6. 



J Spolia Zeylanica, Vol. I, Pfc. II, June 1893, p. 1. 



