HYPNALE NEPA (CARAWILLA). 



This snake is found in Malabar, Anamallay Mountains, and Ceylon. 

 According to Gtinther the largest size is nineteen inches, the tail 

 accounting for two and a half inches. Giinther describes it as follows : — 

 " Head broad, triangular ; snout covered with numerous small shields 

 above, the crown of the head being normally shielded. Body of moderate 

 length, with keeled scales in seventeen rows. Tail rather short, not 

 prehensile, terminating in a short cervical scale. Sub-caudals two- 

 rowed **. Ventrals 140-152, sub-caudals 31-45 ***. Brown or grey, 

 or reddish olive, with a double dorsal series of brown or black spots ; 

 the spots of both sides sometimes confluent into cross-bands. Sides and 

 belly finely marbled and dotted with brown or black. Upper lip brown 

 or black, well marked by a darker line running from behind the eye to 

 the angle of the mouth ; a more or less distinct white or whitish tem- 

 poral streak above the dark line, sometimes continued along the side of 

 the neck, with an interrupted brown band above and below it. Chin 

 and throat blackish and brownish, variegated with yeUow or grey. 

 Sometimes specimens occur of a more uniform coloration ; the dorsal 

 spots on each side of the throat are the most constant markings, as 

 described. AU these varieties may be seen in the foetus taken out of 

 the same female **. The carawilla is much dreaded, although its bite 

 is but exceptionally fatal to man, and in such cases death does not occur 

 before the lapse of some days." Sir Joseph Fayrer says that he has 

 " had no opportunity of testing by experiment the properties of this 

 snake," 



