318 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY , Vol. XVII. 



has frequently a pale lateral streak. Belly whitish or greenish, uniform 

 or mottled. 



Lachesis purpureomaculatus — Gray's Viper. 



Identification. — The nasal shield more or less united with the 1st. 



labial, and the scales in 

 the posterior part of 

 the body numbering 19, 

 when taken together 

 will distinguish this 

 from all the rest of the 

 group. 



Supplementary cha- 

 racters : Internasals. — 

 A pair in contact with 

 one another, or more 

 usually separated by one 

 small scale. Supraocu~ 

 lar — A single shield. 

 Fig. 30.— Lachesis pnrpureomacuLuus (uat. size). Nasal partially or com- 



pletely united with the 1st labial ; one or more minute scales interca- 

 lated between it and the 2nd labial. Subocular — Not in contact with 

 3rd labial. 2nd labial with a furrow in its upper part directed into the 

 loreal pit. Scales. — Anterior, 23 to 25 ; midbody usually 25, (rarely 23 

 or 27) ; posterior, 19. 



Distribution. — Bengal, the Himalayas from probably the Sutlej in 

 the West, Assam, and Burmah, Andamans, and Nicobars. In India 

 it is not met with in the plains, but in Burmah occurs in hills and 

 plains alike. Has been and is frequently confused with L. gramineus. 



Poison. — Stoliczka's observations with regard to the opinion of the 

 natives in the Andamans and Nicobars show that it is not regarded as 

 fatal to man. 



Dimensions. — Grows to 4 feet. 



Colour. — Three varieties are met with : (A) uniform foliage 

 green; (B) uniform purplish-brown, or purplish-black; (C) variegated, 

 purplish-brown and green. Usually a "well-defined white or yellow 

 flank line. Beneath uniform greenish or whitish with sometimes 

 obscure mottling. 



