THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



313 



of the body, and both theso characters will usually be detected even in 

 a badly mutilated specimen. 



Prajfi 



c 



FIG. 25. — Ancistrodon hypnale (X3> 



Distribution. — The hills of Ceylon, and the Western Ghats of India 

 including the Anamallays. It occurs at altitudes varying from 3,000 

 to 6,000 feet and is not uncommon in many parts. It is a very com- 

 mon snaka in soma of the hilly districts in C3ylon(Iiakgalla). 



Poison. — Writers are not consistent upon this question. Tennent* 

 Bays emphatically that a fatal issue does sometimes occur, but not 

 invariably. Guntherf says it is exceptionally fatal to man, and then not 

 before the lapse of some davs Dr. Davy knew a do" bitten by one 



Nat. HiBt. of Ceylon, p. 296. 



+ Kept. Brit, hid., p. 396. 



