THE SNAKE-EATING HAMADRYAD. 103 



behind the obit ; the fourth across the occiput to the angle of 

 the mouth ; the two latter bands are composed of oval spots. 



" In a specimen from the Anamallay Mountains the belly is 

 black, and the white bands extend across, being' wider than on 

 the back ; in a second specimen, of which the locality is unknown, 

 the belly is white, each ventral having a blackish margin. The 

 young Ophiophagus might well be mistaken for a snake of 

 another genus. 



" Major Beddome says the young Ophiophagus is very 

 like the Di.jj-sas Dendrophila, an innocent snake. The shields 

 surrounding the occipitals are large, and give a distinctive char- 

 acter to the snake. There is one pra?-orbital, seven upper labials, 

 the third and fourth entering into the orbit, the third the larg- 

 est, the seventh and jenent very low ; temporals large, 2 by % ; 

 ventrals 215-£62 ; sub-caudals 80-100 ; the number of entire 

 anterior sub-caudals varies much." 



" The Ophiophagus is probably the largest and most deadly 

 of the thanatophidia; fortunately, though widely distributed it 

 is not very common. According to Giinther it is found in al- 

 most every part of the Indian continent; in the Andaman and 

 Philippine Islands, in Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and according to 

 Diime'ril in New Guinea. Major Beddome of Madras says he 

 has killed one nearly fourteen feet in length near Cuttack in 

 Bengal, where it is common. I had a living specimen of the 

 dusky vaiiety from Rangoon, nearly twelve feet in length." 



"The Hamadryas, says Dr. Cantor, is very fierce, and is 

 always ready not only to attack, but to pursue, when opposed ; 

 this too is a conspicuous trait in the Tenasserim serpent/'' 



" As its name implies, it feeds upon other snakes, though 

 probably when its usual food is not forthcoming, it is contented 

 with birds, mammals, fish, frogs, &c. 



" It resembles the Cobra, exept that it is longer in proportion 

 to its size, and its hood is relatively smaller ; it is, however 

 more graceful in its movements, and turns more rapidly. It is 

 occasionally seen with the snake-charmers who prize it highly 

 as a show ; but they say it is exceedingly dangerous to catch, 

 and difficult to handle before its fangs arc removed." 



It will be noted in the foregoing description that the " brown- 

 ish olive vanity, uniform anteriorly with the scales black-edged 

 posteriorly" is referred only to the Philippine Islands and Burmah. 



