THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 01 



Supplementary characters. — The vertebral scales are as broad as 

 long, or even broader in the middle of the body. The subcandals are 

 entire at the base, and divided towards the tip of the tail {see fig. 9 C). 



Distribution. — This rare snake belongs to the Malayan fauna, but 

 extends through the Malay Peninsula as far north as Tenasserim, 

 where it encroaches upon our Burmese Province. 



Poison. — Nothing seems to be known about the effects of its poison. 



Dimensions. — Grows to 6 feet and over. 



Colour. — I quote from Boulenger*: — u Black above, with or with- 

 out a yellow vertebral line, two outer rows of scales black and yellow ; 

 head red or yellow ; tail and sometimes posterior part of body orange 

 red." 



Bungarus bnngaroides — The Northern Hill Krait. 



Identification. — It is the only krait with scales in 15 rows, that has 

 any shields beneath the tail divided. In all the others these shields 

 are entire throughout {see fig. 9). 



Supplementary characters. — The vertebral scales are as broad as long, 

 or rather broader in the posterior part of the body. 



Distribution. — This is a very rare species, and a very local one. 

 Hitherto it has only been recorded from the Himalayas in the vicinity 

 of Darjeeling, and the Khasi Hills in Assam. 



Poison. — Nothing known. 



Dimensions. — Grows to 3 feet. 



Colour.— Black with white linear chevrons or crossbars. 

 Bungarus fasciatus — The Banded Krait. 



The " Raj samp " and " Sankni " of Bengal. Fayrerf says it is 

 called " Koclea Krait" in the North- West. I presume he means 

 N.-W. Bengal, for I do not think it exists in N.-W. India. According 

 to Russell it is called " Bungarum pamah " on the Coromandel Coast. 

 In Burmah it is known as " Gnandawja," " Ngan-wa," " Ngan-than- 

 kwin-syut," " Nat-mywe," and " Mywe-min." 



Identification. — Its colour is very distinctive, but, as I have often 

 pointed out, colouris a very fallacious guide to the identity of any snake. 

 The only snake I know which on the score of colouration might 

 reasonably be confused with it, is the Lycodonfasciotus, an uncommon 

 harmless Burmese species. This also is completely banded yellow and 



* Cat. Snakes. Brit. Mus., Vol. Ill, p. 371. 

 t Thanatophidia, p. 11. 



