40 



THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



HEAD COVERED WITH SMALL SCALES («ee 

 Fig. 28). 



SUPRAOOULAES UNDIVIDED {see S. Fig. 26). 



2nd STJPBALABIAL distinct FKOM lOEBAI, PIT 



(see Fig. 28) Lachesis strigatus. 



2nd supkalabial with a fukrow in its upper 



PABI DIRECTED INTO XORBAI PIT (seeFig. 27). 



MANY SMALL 8UB00ULAR SCALES 



{see Fig. 29) „ monticola. 



AN ELONGATE SUBOCULAR SSIELD 

 {see So, Fig. 26). 



SCALES 21 or 19 IN POSTERIOR 

 BODY {see Tig. 1). 



Nasal and 1st supralabial partially or com- 

 pletely united {see Fig . 30). 

 Scales in midbody 29 roios {see Fig. 7) . . . . „ cantoris. 



„ „ „ 27 to 23 roiDs „ purpureomaculatus. 



Nasal and 1st supralabial distinct {see Fig. 



33) „ mucrosquamatus. 



SCALES n or 15 IN POSTERIOR BODY 

 {see Fig. 7). 



Supralabials 7 or 8 {see Fig. 33) „ jerdoni. 



„ 9 to 12 {see Fig. 34) „ gramineus. 



SUPRAOCULARS DIVIDED {see S. Fig. 35) 

 Subocular touching 3rd supralabial {see So, 



Fig. 35).. ,, trigonoceyhalus . 

 „ not „ „ „ {see So, 



Fig. 36) . . „ anamallensis . 



ANCISTRODON HIMALAYANUS-The Common Himalayan Viper. 



Identification. — The top of the head has the shields in front en- 

 larged, and the scales in the middle of the body are arranged in 21 

 to 23 rows. These combined characters will distinguish this from 

 the other pit-vipers, and even if the head is badly mutilated short 

 of dissolution, I think the enlarged head shields will be generally 

 clearly recognized. 



Distribution. — It is confined to the Himalayan region, including 

 the Khasi Hills of Assam, at altitudes between 5,000 to 12,000 

 feet, and is exceedingly common in some localities (Chitral, 

 Kashmir and the whole Western Himalayas). 



Poison. — ((S'ee Part II, page 117.) 



