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



Trigonocephalus (cophias) feelgherriensis — n. s. 

 Of small size, dark brown with black markings. 23 rows of 

 carinated scales. Scutse 142. Seutellse 36. Not uncommon in woods 

 on the Neelgherries. 



Trigonocephaly's (cophias) wardii — n. s. ? 

 Has 21 rows of carinated scales. Scutae 154. Scutellse 51. Green- 

 ish colour, with purplish-brown diamond spots on back and sides ; 

 12 to 14 inches long. The scales of the head resemble those of T. 

 sumatranus, Baffles, according to Cantor (in Uteris) . 



Vipera Eussellii — Gray. Eussell 1, pi. 7. 



' Kunnadi vyrien' of Tamools. 

 This well known and justly dreaded snake grows to a large size. 

 I am strongly inclined to believe that the far-famed Cobra monil, or 

 Cobra manilla of some, is merely the young of this species. The 

 old orthography is monil, which simply means a chain or necklace, 

 and whoever looks at the markings of this snake, especially of the 

 young one, must be struck with the resemblance thereof to a neck- 

 lace. I need hardly remind the reader that both Cobra capella and 

 Cobra monil are Portuguese names, and I have little doubt, that the 

 latter name was given to our present species by the Portuguese. 

 It has however been forgotten as applied to this viper, and may now 

 be considered a fable ; for every one you meet is able, on his own 

 showing, to point you out the real Cobra monil as quite distinct, 

 and what is more remarkable, no two observers describe it alike, they 

 only agree in its being a very small and a very deadly snake. I 

 may here add that the carpet snake, another household word in 

 the Madras army, appears to me to be equally fabulous, as I have 

 not been able to identify it among the venomous snakes, several 

 prettily marked innocent species having been, at different times 

 pointed out to me as the carpet saake.* 



Vipera echis — Schlegel. V.noratta — Shaw. Eussell 1, pi. 2. 



Kutta vtrien of the Tamools. 

 This little snake is very common in the Carnatic. I do not think 

 its bite would prove fatal to man. I have known a dog bitten by 

 one to recover. 



* Generally, I think, the little harmless Lycodon aulicus (as indeed men- 

 tioned afterwards by Mr. Jerdon) ; and this, perhaps, from its habit of entering 

 houses as much as from its markings.— •Cur, As. Soc. 



