THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 1011 



row. Boulenger * says there is usually a more or less distinct dark 

 lateral streak, and some specimens have two series of small black 

 spots along the back, but I have never noted these. Giintherf says 

 that the young have a blackish streak from the orbit, continued 

 along the fore part of the body. The lower half of the penulti- 

 mate row of scales, the ultimate and the under parts of the snake 

 are uniform yellow, sometimes of a very bright hue. Sometimes 

 there is a pinkish or lilac suffusion on the penultimate and ulti- 

 mate rows. The head is uniform olivaceous above, merging to 

 yellow on the lips, and usually has no streaks from the orbit, 

 nor on the labials. 



A very distinct variety occurs in South India which bears a 

 narrow reddish line down the back on the confines of the 5th and 

 Oth rows above the ventrals where the scales are 19, and the 4th 

 and 5th where 17. This line disappears at the vent and I have 

 noted is more vivid in males than females. I have never seen this 

 in specimens from the Ganges Basin (Fyzabad). 



Disposition. — Though Cantor J remarks that the species is very 

 fierce, and Ferguson § quotes Ingleby's words to the same effect, I 

 have invariably found it very much the reverse, in fact I know of 

 no Indian snake with a more inoffensive nature and nicer manners. 

 1 am not courageous where snakes are concerned, and object 

 strongly to being bitten even by species that I know to be harm- 

 less, so I am always chary of handling them, but this species like 

 the buff-striped Keelback (Tropidonotus stolatus) is so remarkably 

 gentle that I pick it up fearlessly and have never been struck at, 

 or bitten. When alarmed the snake will erect itself and flatten the 

 neck like all other Keelbacks, and it may have been this behaviour 

 that led the writers named above to suppose it fierce. Even the 

 two 1 had conjoined in Bangalore permitted my handling them 

 and making close investigations, without resenting my interference 

 further than to try and elude my grasp. This placid nature is by 

 no means associated with a lack of spirit, for the little reptile is as 

 vivacious, active in movement and alert as any snake I know. 



* Cat. lS l J3 Vol. 1, p. 271- t Rept- Brit- Ind. 1S04, p. 273- 



% P. Z. S. 1839, p. 54. § Bomb. X. H. Jourl., Vol. X, p. 73- 



