34 



A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN 



SNAKES. 



Illustrated by Coloured Plates and Diagram.^. 



by 



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



Part XXII (with Plate XXII, Diagrams and Maps.) 



(Continued from page 7 GO of Volume XXII.) 



The next three species dealt with in this series of papers belong 

 to the genus Zamenis, and are Z. fasciolatus, Z. ventrimaculatus, and 

 Z. diadema. Z. mucosus, the commonest, and most widely distributed 

 has been already discussed in a former paper (Vol. XVII, p. 259). 

 When Mr. Boulenger's catalogue appeared in 1S9G, the genus included 

 34 species chiefly Asian and American. Of this total 10 occur 

 within Indian limits. 



ZAMENIS FASCIOLATUS. 



The Fasciolated Rat-snake. 



History. — Russell in his great work on the Indian snakes, publish- 

 ed in 1796, was the first to mention this snake, and this Volume 

 contains an excellent coloured plate (No. XXI) of a handsomely 

 marked juvenile specimen. Shaw in 1802, and Daudin in 1803, 

 next referred to it, and then Cantor in 1S39. Since then many 

 writers have contributed scraps of information concerning it. 



Nomenclature. — (a) Scientific. — It received its specific baptism in 

 1802. Shaw's name (a diminutive form of the Latin fasciatus 

 " banded " ) having reference to the narrow crossbars usually so 

 distinct in early life. It was assigned to its present place among 

 the Zamenis by Giinther in 1864. The generic name is from the 

 Greek "' Zamenes" meaning " very strong." 



(/<) English. — I can suggest no better name than the fasciolated 

 rat-snake which is the equivalent of its scientific designation. 



(c) Vernacular. — "Nooni paragoodoo " is the name Russell gives 

 on the authority probably of natives in Vizagapatarn, since " gedi 

 paragoodoo" or " grass runner " is the name given to the Krait 

 in the Vizagapatarn District, according to the same author. I am 

 told that " nooni " is Telugu for oil, and " paragudu " means 

 " runner. " The former word which I believe is also used for 

 glistening is probably suggested by the smooth and polished character 

 of the scales. 



Colour. — The prevailing hue dorsally is some shade of brown, 

 or olive-brown, some specimens being very light and almost yellow- 

 ish, others very dark. Young specimens are beautifully ornamented 



