1009 



A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN* 



SNAKES. 



Illustrated by Coloured Plates and Diagrams. 



BY 



Major F. Wall, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S. 



Part XVIII with I'late Will, Diagram and Map. 



(Continued from page J+75 of this Volume.) 



The genus Helicops is one of many into which agiyphous 

 colubrines, i.e., colubrines without grooved or tubular teeth either 

 in the front or back of the maxilla, are divided. It contains 

 eleven species, which inhabit South Asia, Tropical Africa, and 

 North and South America, but only one of these, viz., schistosus 

 occurs within Indian limits. The type is the Brazilian II. 

 carinieauda. 



HELICOPS SCHISTOSUS (Daudin). 



The Olivaceous Keelback. 



Our first introduction to this snake is through Russell who 

 figured, and remarked upon it in 1801.* 



Nomenclature (a) Scientific. — The generic name for which Waaler 

 is responsible, dates back to 1830, and is from the Greek 

 '• elis. " rolling, and "ops," eye, and seems to me specially 

 suitable to our Indian representative, for I do not think I have 

 ever observed another snake move its eyeballs so actively. The 

 specific title given by Daudin in 1803 from the Latin meaning 

 ' ; slaty", was probably suggested by the dorsal colour of Russell's 

 plate, or a spirit specimen. It is to my mind not appropriate, for 

 in life the snake is olivaceous. 



English. — The olivaceous Keelback seems to me a suitable 

 name. 



Vernacular. — Russell sa} T s it is known to the natives (on the 

 Coromandel coast ?) as " Chittee " which I am told is Telu<ni for 



* Ind. Serp.. Vol- II, Plate IV. 



