102 THE SNiKE-EATING HAMADKYAD. 



to the length of twelve or fourteen feet, and is not only very- 

 powerful, but also active and aggressive. It is hooded like the 

 Cobra, and resembles it in its general configuration and charac- 

 ters. 



GKinther's definition of it is as follows : — u Body rather elon- 

 gate ; tail of proportionate length ; head rather short, depressed, 

 scarcely distinct from neck, which is dilatable. Oecipitals sur- 

 rounded by three pairs of large shields, the two anterior of which 

 are temporals. Nostril between two nasals. Lareal none ; one 

 or two prse-three post-oculars. Scales smooth, much imbricae- 

 ed, in transverse rows, in fifteen series round the body, but it 

 many more round the neck ; those of the vertebral series ran 

 rather larger than the others." 



" Ventrals more than 200, anal entire ; anterior sub-candals 

 simple, posterior two rowed, sometimes all bifid. Maxillary 

 with a large fang in front, which is perforated at the end, show- 

 ing a longitudinal grove in front ; a second, small, simple tooth 

 at some distance behind the fang. The colour of this snake 

 varies according to age and locality. The adult is some shade 

 of olive green or brown. According to Gunther it is : — 



" Olive green above ; the shields of the head, the scales of the 

 neck, hinder part of the body and of the tail edg^ed with black; 

 trunk with numerous oblique, alternate black and white bands 

 converging towards the head; lower parts marbled with blackish, 

 or uniform pale greenish." This variety is found in Bengal, 

 Assam, the Malayan Peninsula, and Southern India. 



" Brownish olive, uniform anteriorly, with the scales black 

 edged posteriorly ; each scale of the tail with a very distinct 

 white, black-edged ocelles ; as in Plyas mucosus." 



" This variety is not found in Bengal ; Gunther says it is 

 found in the Philippine Islands, and perhaps in Burmah." 



" Uniform browuish black, scales of the hinder part of the 

 body and of the tail somewhat lighter in the centre; all the 

 lower parts black, except the chin and throat, which are yellow." 

 This variety is found in Borneo. 



" Young specimens have a much more varied coloration ; they 

 are black, with numerous white, equidistant, narrow cross bands 

 descending obliquely backwards ; head with four white cross- 

 bands ; one occupies the extremity of the throat, the second 

 across the posterior frontals, third across the crown of the head, 



