THE CHITTUL. 115 



aspect, called by the colonists the Death Adder, and by the Yas natives ' Tammin,' from 

 having a small curved process at the extremity of the tail ; or, more correctly, the tail 

 terminating suddenly in a small curved extremity, bearing some resemblance to a sting; it 

 is considered by popular rumour to inflict a deadly sting with it. 



This hideous reptile is thick in proportion to its length ; the eye is vivid yellow, with 

 a black longitudinal pupil. The colour of the body is difficult to be described, being a 

 complication of dull colours, with narrow, blackish bands shaded off into the colours which 

 compose the back ; abdomen slightly tinged with red ; head broad, thick, and flattened. 

 The specimen I examined measured two feet two inches in length, and five inches in 

 circumference. A dog that was bitten by one died in less than an hour. The specimen 

 I examined was found coiled up near the banks of the Murrumbidgee river ; and being of 

 a torpid disposition, did not move when approached, but quietly reposed in the pathway, 

 with its head turned beneath its belly." 



The generic title of Acanthophis, or Thorny-Snake, is given to this species on account 

 of the structure of the tail, which is furnished at its extremity with a recurved horny 

 spine. 



WE now arrive at a very remarkable family of Snakes, which pass their lives in 

 water, either fresh or salt, and are river or sea Serpents as the case may be. In order to 

 enable them to pass through the waters without injury to the organs of respiration, the 

 nostrils are furnished with a valve so as to prevent the ingress of water while the creature 

 is below the surface. 



A good example of these marine Serpents is tne BLACK-BACKED PELAMTS (Pelamis 

 bicolor), the Nalla Whallagee Pam of the Indian fishermen. This Snake is found only 

 at sea, and is said seldom if ever to approach the shore, except for the purpose of 

 depositing its eggs, which are laid on the beach sufficiently near high-water mark for the 

 young Snakes to seek their congenial element as soon as they are hatched. The Black- 

 backed Pelamis is frequently found sleeping on the surface of the sea, and is then caught 

 without much difficulty, as it is forced to throw itself on its back before it can dive. It 

 has been suggested that this movement is intended to expel the air in the ample lungs. 

 Sometimes it is unwillingly captured by the fishermen in their nets, and is an object of 

 considerable dread to them on account of the formidable character of its teeth. In 

 these Serpents the fangs are but little larger than the other teeth of the jaw, but 

 can be distinguished by their slightly superior size and the groove that runs along their 

 front edge. 



In this, as in many other species of water Snake, the tail is flattened, or rather 

 compressed, for a considerable portion of its length, and forms a powerful organ of 

 propulsion. The colour of this species is black above and yellow below and on the flanks. 

 The upper lip is also yellow, and the tail is of the same hue, variegated with black on 

 the edges and spotted with black on the sides. Its average length is rather less than 

 one yard. 



The SHOOTER SUN (Hl/drophis obscura) is another of the sea Serpents. This reptile 

 is also one of the Indian species and inhabits the sea or the saline waters of the river- 

 mouths, not being able to exist in fresh water. It is an admirable swimmer, but is very 

 awkward on dry land, and cannot survive for any length of time unless it has access to 

 salt water. The outline of this Serpent is most remarkable. The head and neck are 

 almost absurdly minute in proportion to the wide thick body, bearing about the same 

 proportion as the tip of the little finger does to the wrist. The tail is also very wide, 

 extremely blunt, and compressed. 



The markings of this reptile are rather curious. The ground colour is black. There 

 is a large yellow spot on each side of the head, a series of pale grey-brown spots runs on 

 each side of the neck, and a row of large rounded white marks is arranged along the back 

 so as to form a richly variegated pattern of boldly contrasted colours. 



The CHITTUL (Hydrophis sublcevis) is another of these marine Snakes, and is found 

 in India and Ceylon. It is rather a large species, sometimes exceeding five feet in length 



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