ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 605 



interpreted is enigmatical*. In Bengal Theobaldf says it is known 

 as " halhalliah," and Mr. D'Abreu whilst confirming this by 

 telling me that this is the name applied to it in Murshidabad, 

 remarks that in Behar it is called hur-hur-ra a local word mean- 

 ing with a rustle hur-hurra in Bengali means "restless" and is 

 the name by which it is known throughout that Province. 



In Burma it is called " my we shaw " meaning " crawling 

 snake " and " my it shaw " " grass crawler." 



General characters. — It is a graceful little reptile with the body 

 rather short, and the tail rather long, viz., about one-fourth the 

 total length of the snake. Anteriorly the body attenuates some- 

 what to the head, so that the neck is fairly evident, and posteriorly 

 reduces perceptibly in girth to the vent, where in females specially 

 a further reduction marks the commencement of the tail. Dor- 

 sally the body and tail are rough with the keeling of the scales, 

 which last are lustreless. The head is rather depressed, evenly 

 rounded from the crown to the side of the face, specially over the 

 muzzle, and has the snout moderately narrowed. The eye is large 

 with a round pupil, and an iris flecked with gold especially at the 

 pupillary margin. The nostril is open, and occupies about 

 two-fifths of the depth of the suture between the nasal shields, 

 leaving about one-fifth of the suture uninvolved above, and about 

 two-fifths below. The tongue is a dull orange colour at the base, 

 and has black tips. 



Colour and markings. — The ground colour is olivaceous-brown of 

 various depths of intensity, some specimens being dark, others light. 

 A buff stripe beginning in the neck or forebody, at first obscure but 

 becoming well defined, and conspicuous, passes down each side of 



* Further enquiry brings to light the following- story from old Ceylon records. 

 It appears that the old Ceylon Kings kept a jester about the Court, and on one 

 occasion at a garden party the King came across a snake called Ahan-kukka 

 (Synonymous with the Pal: word for the tame snake man-balla), meaning 

 literally : ' ahan" I am, " kukka " a dog. He called for the jester, and seeking 

 to have some fun at his expense, asked him before his courtiers and assembled 

 guests the name of the snake, but the jester was quickwitted enough to discover 

 the King's intention and replied untruthfully " ahara kukka " meaning "a dog 

 looking for food " since which the snake has been so known. 

 t Cat., Brit. India, page 177. 



