ECHIS CARINATUS. 343 
" The doubtful question is in regard to the possibility of the induction of chronic septicemic intoxication. 
In Northern India there is a generally diffused belief that such intoxication is liable to occur ; and Alcock ' 
assured me that he once met with a case in which it unequivocally was present. On the other hand, 
however, Elliot 2 , who tried many experiments in Madras, affirms that he found that coolies, whilst full of 
fear of the bite of Daboias, had no dread whatever of .fiWii's-bites, and were quite willing to allow themselves 
to be bitten as a matter of experiment. 
" My own belief is that there are only two kinds of snake-venom — a colubrine and a viperine one, — and 
that any differences in the phenomena attending the bites of different species of colubrine and viperine 
snakes are simply determined by differences in the amount of toxic material present, the amount being 
dependent partly on the bulk of venom available and partly on the ratio of toxic material to bulk ; e. g., the 
common krait has a large quantity of very potent venom to dispose of, the banded krait has a relatively 
small quantity of feeble material. 
" I am sorry that I cannot give you more definite information, and I doubt much whether you will be 
able to get any of a really trustworthy nature." 
The following is an analysis of the table (pp. 340-342) : — 
Range of ventrals. 
Range of subcaudals. 
Locality. 
132-171 
23-31 
S. India. 
163-184 
28-34 
N.W. India. 
173-192 
30-37 
Baluchistan to Transcaspia. 
172-189 
28-37 
Persia. 
159-184 
30-48 
S.E. Arabia. 
172-195 
30-43 
Suakin, &c. 
167-184 
31-37 
Egypt. 
145-168 
26-39 
W. Africa. 
As a rule, two enlarged scales or, more properly, small plates are present behind the 
rostral, and thus separate the Dasals, but not unfrequently they become broken up. 
The nasals throughout the series vary from one to two, but two is the prevalent 
number — i. e., complete division of the nasal shield generally takes place. In some 
cases a small scale occurs close to the nostril, which is perforated in a single shield ; 
and in other instances a scale of this kind becomes united to the nasal and defines 
part of the nostril, while in others as many as two such scales are present. In some 
instances there is union of the nasal and first labial. The chin-shields are succeeded 
by a variable number of scales or plates in pairs. 
In the type of Hcliis coloratus, Gthr., from Arabia, the nasal and supranasals are 
excluded from the rostral by three small scales ; the upper labials are 13 ; there are 
17 to 19 scales around the eye ; there are 32 scales around the body ; 207 ventrals and 
47 caudals. Two specimens from the Dead Sea, three from Maskat, three from the 
Hadramut, and one from Socotra present the general features of the type of E. coloratus ; 
1 Indian Med. Gazette, xxiii. 1889, p. 175. 
2 Indian Med. Record, ix. 1895, p. 207. 
