418 



RUSSELIAN SNAKE. 



continued warmth of climate, and ever-blooming 

 verdure which distinguish the beautiful regions 

 of both the Indies, where, alas ! the incautious 

 traveller may meet with sudden fate in the midst 

 of the most enchanting scenes which nature can 

 display. 



RUSSELIAN SNAKE. 



Coluber Russelii. C. fusco-jiavescens, maculis dorsalibus omU- 

 acuminatis nigricantibus albo marginatis, lateralibus minoribus 

 ovatis. 



Brownish-yellow Snake, with acutely-ovate blackish dorsal 



spots edged with white, and smaller ovate laiteral ones. 

 Katuka Rekula Poda. Russ, Ind, Serp. p. 10.pl. 7. 

 Abdominal scuta l68, subcaudal squamae 59. 



The length of this remarkable snake is about 

 four feet : the colour an elegant pale yellowish 

 brown, marked throughout the whole length of 

 the back with a continued chain or series of large 

 rhomboid, or rather oval, spots of deep brown, 

 with paler middles, and narrow white edges : in 

 some parts these spots are nearly confluent, as 

 shewn in the figure : on each side of the body is a 

 row of brown oval spots, smaller than those on 

 the back ; and, besides these, a few still smaller 

 transverse marks are scattered here and there on 

 the sides : the under part of the body is white, 

 with a few dusky spots : the head is rather large ; 

 the snout obtuse; the mouth wide, the fangs 

 large^ and, as in several other poisonous serpent;^ 



