THE CHITTUL. ji 5 



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 rumor 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 color of the body is difficult to be described, being a 

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

 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 the BLACK-BACKED PELAMIS (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 color 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 (Hydrophis obsaira) 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 color is black. There 

 is a large yellow spot on each side of the head, a series of pale gray-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 colors. 



The CHITTUL (Hydrophis sublizvis) 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, 



