COLUBRINE GROUP. 



221 



Iback in the body than ordinary, these snakes may be recognised externally by the 

 thickening of that region. The figured species (Adeniophis intestinalis) is an 

 extremely elongated and slender snake, inhabiting Burma and the Malayan Islands, 

 and attaining a length of 2 feet. It is generally brown above with a yellowish 

 black-edged line running down the middle of the back, and a nearly similar one on 

 each side of the body ; the under-parts being banded with yellow and black. 



Although the native name crait applies properly only to a single 

 member (Bungarus cceruleus) of this genus, it may be conveniently 

 extended to include the whole of the eight species, which range from India to the 

 south of China, five occurring in India and Ceylon. Closely connected with the 



Craits. 



BANDED ADDER, OR RAJ-SAMP ( nat. Size). 



resplendent snakes by the genus Hemibungarus, in which a solid tooth is present 

 behind the fangs, the craits have from one to three small solid teeth behind these ; 

 and the smooth scales are arranged in thirteen or fifteen rows, with the middle row 

 of the back larger than the others. The head resembles that of the last genus in 

 being imperfectly distinguished from the neck, as well as in the size and number of 

 its shields ; while the small eye has a similar round pupil. The tail is of moderate 

 length, or short, with the shields on its lower surface arranged in either a double 

 or single series. The banded adder (B. fasciatus) belongs to a group in which 

 the shields on the lower surface of the body are very large, and broader than long ; 

 those of the tail being arranged in a single series. The species is distinguished 

 by the presence of a distinct ridge along the back, by the obtuse extremity of 

 the tail, and by the front temporal shield of the head being scarcely longer than 



