A POPULAR TREATISE ON INDIAN SNAKES. 263 



through a hole on to the floor. It was closely followed by the head 

 and mnch of the body of a large snake, which, however, managed to 

 withdraw itself. It is more than probable that this was a rat-snake. 



Removed from man's immediate environment I believe it realises 

 there is no occasion for such prison accommodation as populous locali- 

 ties thrust upon it, and here it has free scopo to indulge its diurnal 

 inclinations. In Cannanore snipe-shooting I very frequently encoun- 

 tered it in broad daylight leisurely pursuing its quest for luncheon, and 

 when not actually on the move I often found it coiled asleep in the 

 paludal vegetation, or beneath a lush. Again, on two or three occa- 

 sions when stepping into paddy fields at dawn I have seen it coiled on 

 the heaps of decaying vegetable matter whioh represent the remnants 

 of last year's crop, and weeds, suggesting that it had taken up these 

 quarters over-night. 



It shows a decided partiality for the vic'nity of water for reasons 

 very obvious when we come to consider its diet. It will take readily 

 to water should occasion demand, and swims vigorously, ard well, 

 carrying its b^ad above the surface for choice, but diving when the 

 nece:ssitv is urgent. 



1 have seen it at some height in a tree (ten or fifteen feet), also on 

 the roofs of houses, so that its scansorial abilities are not inferior to those 

 of most of its kind.* 



It appears to be very fleet in its movements, but its speed is deceptive, 

 for on one occasion, when I chased one using its full endeavours to 

 escape, I found I had traversed 38 yards while the reptile covered 18. 

 It measured 5 feet 9£ inches. 



Here 1 may remark that this snake enters into the dietary of seven.l 

 natives of India, who hold it in great esteem. A Tamil of the Tigala 

 caste in Bangalore told me his caste while despising all other snakes as 

 food, or medicine, relished the flesh of the dhaman which when cooked 

 was white, and fish -like. The taste he compared to that of chicken. 

 It appears to enjoy a reputation in wasting diseases. In Fyzabad 

 recently a cooly came, and begged the body of one that had been sent 

 in to me dead to eat. The Burmese and Karens eat it with avidity, but 

 are by no means bigoted with regard to the species of snake they eat. 

 The Chinese use it in medicine among other ophidian brethren, and I 

 doubt not eat it too. I saw many preserved on the shelves of the local 

 medicine men in Honojvono-. 



* bee addenda V J). 



