A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 785 



Though the species is obviously oviparous it is probable that 

 minute embryo are already in process of formation at the time that 

 the eggs are extruded, for in an allied species in Assam (proarchos, 

 Wall J I found embryos in the eggs when laid, and noted that I 

 could see the head and eye and rudiment of lower jaw, and could 

 observe the heart beating. Further observations are required to 

 ascertain if tristis lays eggs in which the embryos are equally well 

 developed. 



Legends. — There is a general belief among the natives of Southern 

 India that the Common Indian bronze-back is fatally poisonous. 

 Russell* records the belief as prevalent in his time, and says that 

 his snake-catcher professed to have known two men killed by it, 

 the bite producing immediate giddiness and death in two days. 

 There is no reason to reject this snake-man's story, for as I have 

 more than once remarked in these papers deaths do occur from the 

 bites of perfectly harmless snakes. Such fatalities are due to 

 cardiac syncope due to fright. In Bengal too as I am informed by 

 Mr. E. Muir (Kalna) the natives say it is very poisonous and 

 attacks without provocation. Russellf also mentions the belief 

 among natives that this snake having bitten a person ascends a 

 tree near the pyre to watch with vindictive satisfaction the smoke 

 rising from the corpse of its victim, after which it descends. I 

 heard this same story in Ceylon, but was never able to discover 

 exactly which snake it was that was credited with this malignant 

 spirit. Dr. J. R. Henderson tells me the belief is still prevalent 

 in Southern India, and he has known a mock funeral with an 

 effigy organised to save the bitten subject, for when the snake 

 descends from the tree the poison it is supposed to have injected 

 leaves the body, and the otherwise doomed person recovers. 



In Cannanore there was another strange belief among the natives 

 who said that this snake could thrust its tail into the ground, 

 balance thereon, and assume the form of a bow, hence their name for 

 it " villoonie " from " villoo " a bow. I was never able to under- 

 stand with what object it is supposed to evince this strange 

 behaviour. 



Distribution. (A) Geographical. — The evidence at my command 

 points to this being undoubtedly the common species to be found 



* Loc. cit., Vol. II, p. 30. f Loc. cit-, Vol. II, p. 31. 



