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Htpnale, Fitzinger. 



Head broad, triangular. Snout covered with numerous un- 

 equal scale-like sliields, symmetrically arranged. The crown of 

 the head normally shielded. Scales keeled in 17 to 19 rows. 

 Subcaudals bifid. Tail terminating in a short conical scale. 

 Viviparous or oviparous. 



H. nepa, Laur. Laur. Syn., p. 97. 



H. affinis, Anderson. J. A. S. B., 1871, part II, p. 20. 



Snout slightly upturned, scaled. Superciliaries very large, 

 equal to or larger than occipitals. Loreal pit over the second 

 upper labial. Upper labials 7, none entering the orbit. Three 

 prseoculars, the lowest in contact with a band-like postocular. 

 Colour above brown, with a double dorsal row of dark spots, or 

 dark cross bars. Below pale, profusely dark mottled, or brown 

 darker mottled. A pale band from the eye over the temporal 

 region continued down the side where it is broken up and lost. 

 Chin and throat blackish or brown, variegated more or less with 

 grey, with one or two opaque white dots on either side along the 

 mandible. *A11 the scales finely punctate with dark brown. 



Grows to 19 inches. (Tail 2-50.) 



Inhabits Ceylon and the mountains of Southern India. 



The bite is said to be fatal, though exceptionally so to man, 

 and then only after some days. 



A variety with 19 rows of scales and 8 upper labials has been 

 separated specifically by Anderson, but injudiciously I think. 



