46 THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



LACHESIS STRIGATUS-The Horse-shoe Viper. 



Identification. — This is the only species in which the 2nd labial 

 shield is entirely distinct from the 

 lorealpit (see Figs. 27 and 28), and 

 this alone will suffice to establish 

 its identity. 



Supplementary characters. — Inter- 

 nasals. — No scales are sufficiently 

 enlarged to deserve the name. 

 Supraocular. — A single shield. 



Nasal. — Not united to 1st labial, 



one or more minute scales are 



intercalated between it and the 



„ T 1 • 1 1 p • , T . Jf !&• 28. — Lachesis strigatus 



turrowed shield tormmg the inner (nat. size). 



wall of the loreal bit. Suhocular. — Not touching the 3rd labial. 



Scales. — Anterior usually 21 (rarely 19) ; midbody usually 21 



(rarely 23) ; posterior usually 15 (rarely 17). 



Distribution. — The Western Ghats and the Nilgiri, Anamallay, 

 Shevaroy, and Pulney Hills of Southern India, at altitudes from 

 3,000 to 8,000 feet. Gray mentions it as common about Ootaca- 

 mund, and Jerdon as not uncommon in the wooded parts of the 

 Nilgiris ; but judging from the paucity of specimens in museums, 

 and the written testimony of friends, it appears to me an uncommon 

 snake everywhere. 



Poison. — -Jerdon* mentions being bitten by one. A ligature 

 speedily applied, followed by suction, warded off any ill-effects, but 

 the skin round the bite blackened in a minute or two, detached 

 itself, and came off in his mouth during suction. 



Dimensions. — Grows to 1-| feet. 



Colour. — The prevailing colour is brown, mottled darker to form 

 an irregular coarse variegation. A pale buffer j^ellowish horse-shoe 

 mark on the nape. A dark streak behind the eye. Beneath, light- 

 coloured mottled with darker hues. 



•Journal, Asiatic Soc, Bengal, Vol. XXII, p. 525- 



