SEVERE SNAKE. 421 



tusely tapering, but by no means pointed, snout; 

 the head is also covered on all parts by very small 

 scales : colour of the whole upper parts fine grass 

 green ; of the under parts pale yellow, the edges 

 of the abdomen marked by a row of faint green 

 spots : length about two feet and a half; tail about 

 five inches, gradually tapering to the extremity: 

 native of India : described by Dr. Russel : a poi- 

 sonous species : fangs remarkably long and slen- 

 der. From Dr. Russel's experiments it appears 

 that a chicken died, after having suffered strong- 

 convulsions, and afterwards stupor, in about eight 

 minutes from the bite : pigs and dogs were seized 

 with stupor, convulsions, &c. but in the space 

 of a few hours recovered from the effect of the 

 poison. 



SEVERE SNAKE. 



Coluber Severus, C. cinereus, fasciis obliquis linearibus albidis 



fusco marginatis. 

 Cinereous Snake, with oblique linear whitish bands edged with 



brown. 



Coluber Severus. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 379. 

 Vipera Japonica literas inscripta. Seb. 2. t. 54. f. 4. f 

 Abdominal scuta 170, subcaudal squamse 42. 



A RATHER small species, growing to the length 

 of about a foot and half, and being of moderate 

 thickness : head broad, obtuse, livid, with a cine- 

 reous band between the eyes and behind the nos- 

 trils : eyes large ; neck thick ; colour of the upper 

 parts cinereous, with whitish, narrow, transverse 



