48 



THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



Supplementary chci/racters. — Internasals. — A pair separated by 

 one small scale. Supraocular. — A single shield. Nasal partially 

 or completely united with 1st labial; no minute scales intercalated 



//ji. 



Fig. 30. — Lachesis cantoris (nat. size). 

 Note confluence of nasal (X) and 1st supralabial (1). 



between it and the 2nd labial. Subocular not touching the 3rd 

 abial. 2nd labial furrowed in its upper half, and forming the 

 inner wall of the loreal pit. Scales. — Anterior, 27; midbody, 29 ; 

 posterior, 21. 



Distribution. — Peculiar to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 



Poison. — Stoliczka remarks on the small size of the poison gland 

 even in specimens 3 to 4 feet long, and both he and Dr. Eink who 

 visited the insular groups above mentioned, where they found this 

 snake extremely abundant, elicited information from the natives 

 showing that they (the natives) did not regard the bite as fatal. 



Colour. — There are two varieties, the one bright green or dull 

 greenish with dark spots, often arranged alternately in five longi- 

 tudinal series ; the other light, or dark brown, spotted with pale 

 greenish. Usually a well-defined white line runs along the flanks, 

 and the head has frequently a pale lateral streak. Belly whitish 

 or greenish, uniform or mottled. 



