:84 INDIAN SNAEE POISONS, 



CHAPTER III. 



THE PHYSIOLOQIOAL EFFECTS PEODUOED BY THE 

 POISONS OP THE BUNGABUS FASOIATUS AND 

 THE BUNGABUS OCEBULEUS. 



The Bungarus fasciatus is a snake that has a very wide 

 distribution in India. It is common in Bengal, extends 

 down the Coromandel coast and into Burmah, where it 

 is said to entirely replace its congener, the Bungarus 

 coeruleus. It is also common in Java, the Malayan 

 Peninsula, Penang, Tenasserim, and China. It is of 

 shy, retiring habits, and is not easily irritated. The 

 natives of India are of opinion that it never hisses, but 

 I have several times heard it do so, but very gently. 

 It is not possible to determine what share it contributes 

 to the general mortality from snake-bite. It belongs, of 

 course, to the oolubrine division of snakes, and is easily 

 recognised by the alternate bands of black and yellow 

 that surround its body. The effects of its poison are 

 demonstrated by the following experiments. 



