98 SIR JOSEPH FAYEEE, K.C.S.I., ETC., 



general configuration. The adult is some shade of olive 

 green or brown ; the shields of the head, the scales of the 

 neck, hinder part of the body and tail are edged with black ; 

 the body and hood are marked with black oblique bands. 

 There are several varieties with modifications of colouration, 

 but the general characters are essentially the same. The 

 young differ considerably from the old, and might be mis- 

 taken for another genus ; they are black, with numerous 

 white, equidistant, narrow cross bands. The shields surround- 

 ing the occipital are large, and give a distinctive character 

 to the adult snake. This snake, though widely distributed 

 throughout India and in the Andaman Islands, is not common 

 and probably does not destroy many human lives ; but it is 

 very deadly, and its virus seems to have similar effects to 

 that of the cobra. It is found in the forest and grass jungle, 

 and is said to live in hollow trees, and to climb them, being 

 frequently found resting in the branches; it also takes to the 

 water very readily. As its name implies it feeds on snakes, 

 though probably when they are not forthcoming, it is con- 

 tented with other small creatures. Its hood is smaller than 

 the cobra's ; it is even more graceful in its movements and 

 turns more rapidly. The snake-charmers, who prize it highly, 

 say it is very difficult to catch and handle. A fine specimen 

 of the ophiophagus, about nine or ten feet in length, lived 

 for some ten years in the Zoological Society's gardens, and 

 died two or three years ago ; it consumed numbers of the 

 common English snake, and, I believe, would eat nothing else. 

 It seemed a quiet, unaggressive creature until roused, when it 

 would raise its head, dilate its hood, and strike at any object 

 brought near it. 



Bungarus has two Indian species. The Bungarus coeruleus 

 or krait, is probably next to the cobra, the most destructive 

 snake to human life. The other species, B. faxciatus, sankni, 

 or raj-samp, is probably equally poisonous ; but it is not much 

 brought in contact with men, and therefore is less destructive 

 to human life than coeruleus. The krait is of a dark, almost 

 steel-blue black to a chocolate brown, with narrow white 

 cross- streaks, rings, or bars of white; the ventral surface is 

 of a dark, livid colour, or white or yellow tinge ; but there 

 are varieties in the form of colouration. This species is 

 common all over India. The fangs are smaller than those 

 of the cobra, and the poison is not so rapid in its action, but 

 it is very dangerous and destructive. It is found in the fields, 

 in grassy plains, rice fields, low, scrubby jungle, and among 



