NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 



139 



in the Mediterranean, and was first noticed as a British species 

 by Montagu, who obtained specimens from an oyster-bed at 

 Torcross on the Devonshire coast. He observed that those in 

 which the ocellated spot was most perfect had the first dorsal ray 

 very long. Since his day it has been met with more frequently 

 on our coasts. Mr. Cornish reports that it is not uncommon 

 near Falmouth, but elsewhere on the Cornish coast rare. 



4. The Bungarum Pamah, Bungarus fasdatus, is a very 

 venomous snake between three and four feet in length, which is 



The Indian Bungai:um, Bungarus fasdatus. 



found nearly all over India. It may be recognised at once by its 

 peculiar markings being ringed alternately with steel-blue and 

 bright yellow ; by its triangular outline having a dorsal keel of 

 hexagonal scales ; and by the hard blunt end to the tail. It does 

 not erect its head, but lies coiled up in curves, and when disturbed 

 jerks itself out like a spring, but without extending its whole 

 length of body. It is not so common as the Cobra, Naja 

 tripudians, which sometimes reaches five feet or more in length, 



