SNAKES OF CEYLON. 437 



Bungarus ciERULEUS* (Schneider). 



(Latin " cseruleus " dark blue. The snake has a bluish 

 sheen in certain lights.) 



The Common Krait. 



Tamil : " yennai viriyan " (oily snake), in allusion to its 

 shining scales. " Yennai panayan " (oily snake), " yettadi 

 viriyan " (8- foot snake). This implies that it is so poisonous 

 that its victim will not move 8 feet from the time he is bitten. 



Synonymy. — Pseudoboa cxrulea, P. krait, Boa lineata, 

 Aspidoclonion semifasciatum, Bungarus candidus, B. semi- 

 fasciatus, B. arcuatus, B. lineatus. 



History. — First depicted by Seba in 1735 (Thesaurus II., 

 Plate LVL, Figs. 1, 3, and 4). Russell figured it in 1796 in 

 his first volume, Plate I. Schneider christened it in 1801. 



General Characters. — As detailed under the genus. A 

 very handsome snake with glossy scales, growing to about 

 4J feet. Body cylindrical. Tail about one-eighth to one- 

 ninth the total length, attenuating to a point. 



Identification. — The enlarged hexagonal vertebrals and 

 entire subcaudals will proclaim it a Bungarus. From cey- 

 lonicus it will be distinguished by the fewer ventrals, the 

 2nd supralabial being as long as the 1st and 3rd, and by its 

 twin white linear arches over the back. Gercaspis carinatus, 

 Lycodon striatus, and one variety of L. aulicus, especially the 

 first two, bear a close superficial resemblance to this species, 

 but the scales and shields are very different. 



Colouration. — Dorsally the snake is a shining lustrous black, 

 with paired linear white arches across the back. The 

 arches are more distinct posteriorly, and tend to become 

 confluent vertebrally, and finally to disappear, especially 



* Boulenger refers to this as B. candidus, and considers our Indian 

 form cseruleus as a variety. Similarly, Blyth's multicinctus and Wall 

 and Evans' magni?naculatus are regarded as varieties. These four 

 forms have a very distinctive colouration, and each its own restricted 

 range of distribution, and I think may very likely regain their lost 

 recognition as distinct species. Until I am satisfied of their specific 

 unity I prefer to regard them as distinct species. To those who support 

 Boulenger's opinion this form should be designated Bungarus candidus, 

 Variety Ccsfuteus. 



