320 JO URNAL, BOMB A Y NA TURAL H1STOR Y SOVIET V, Vol. XV 11. 



2nd labial. Subocu'ar touches the 3rd labial. 2nd labial with a furrow 

 in its upper part directed into the loreal pit. Scales. — Anterior 21 

 usually, (rarely 23) ; midbody 21, (rarely 19); posterior 17, (rarely 15). 



Distribution. — Khasi Hills, Assam, Thibet. 



Poison. — Nothing known. 



Dimensions. — Grows to 2\ feet. 



Colour. —Variegated greenish and black. Head black, ornamented 

 with yellow. Belly mottled greenish and b.ack. 



Lachesis gramineus. 

 The Common Green Viper or Bamboo Snake. 



Identification. — Scales 15 in the posterior part of the body, supraocular 

 a single shield, suprala- 

 bials 9 to 12, the 2nd 

 furrowed in its upper 

 half, if co-existing will 

 serve to identify it. 



Supplementary cha- 

 racters : Inter'-asals. — A 

 pair, in contact, or sepa- 

 rated by one or two small 

 scales. Supraoculars — 

 A single shield. Nasal — 

 Sometimes united with 

 1st labial, sometimes dis- 

 tinct ; small scales may 

 or may not bs intercalated 



JZh-Z 



Fig. 33. — Lacne&is gramineus (nat. size). 

 Var ety from Western Ghats. 



batween it and the 2nJ labial Subocular may or may not touch the 

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

 loreal pit. S-alts. — Anterior, 21 ; midbody, 21 ; posterior, 15. 



Distribution. — Much the most plentiful and the most widely distri- 

 buted of our Indian Pit- Vipers. From the Malayan region it extends 

 through Burma, including the An damans and Nicobars, to the Hima- 

 layan region probably as far west as the Sutkj River. It is found in 

 the Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, Nilgir!s and other hills in the 

 Peninsula of India. It does not occur in the plains of India, but 

 affects an altitude of from 1,500 to 6,000 feet. East of Calcutta occurs 

 in the plains and hills alike. 



