522 Catalogue of Reptiles inhabiting the Peninsula of India. [No. 6. 



Catalogue of Hep tiles inhabiting the Peninsula of India. — By T. C. 

 Jerdon, JEsq. Madras Medical Service. 



Continued from p. 479. 



The following is merely a brief and imperfect resume of the 

 serpents and frogs of S. India, drawn up from my drawings, with a 

 few rough notes attached to them ; as circumstances have prevented 

 my giving a more full account at this time ; but a detailed account 

 will be drawn up, as soon as I have again access to my collection. 



OPHIDIA. 

 VENOMOUS SEBPENTS. 

 Earn. VIPEEID^E. 



Sub-Earn. BUNGABIME. 

 Terrestrial. 

 Elaps melanttrtjs, (Shaw) — Eussell 1, pi. 8. 

 I never procured but one specimen of this little snake. It was 

 at Jalnah and about 14 inches long. It was red beneath the tail 

 and was very bold. Scutse 234. Scutellse 28. 13 rows of scales.* 

 Elaps malabaricus — n. s. 

 Head black with transverse bands, body brown above with black 

 markings, bright red beneath. Scutse 246. Scutellse 38. 13 rows of 

 scales. Tail exceeds xo-th of total length. 



I have found this little snake in forest in Malabar, once or twice 

 during the monsoon. The red colour of the abdomen fades in spirits. 



BlJNGARTJS CAKDIDUS — L., Eussell 1, pi. 1. 



B. semi-fasciatus, Schl. ' Yenna vyrien' of the Tamools. Up to 

 3 feet in length. Is very common all over Southern India, and is 

 said to be fatal. Scutse 217. Scutellse 39. 



This snake may be distinguished from one or two harmless species 

 that much resemble it in colour, by the sub-caudal scutellse being in 

 one row, not double. 



BUNGARUS EASCIATUS — EuSSell 1, pi. 3. 



Golden banded bungarum. 



I have only seen specimens of this handsome snake in the North- 

 ern Circars at Ganjam, where it is not very common. It is said to 

 be very deadly. 



* Common in Burma. — Cur. As. Soc. 



