INDIAN SERPENTS. 
45 
lamina regular ; the lateral ones sub-conical, the semicordate pair broad, obtuse, having 
a large lamina on each side near their apex. 
The mouth proportionally large ; a marginal row of teeth above ; no fangs. The eyes 
large; globular. The nostrils close to the rostrum, rounded, open. 
The trunk depressed; scales ovate, smooth. The tail round, gradually tapering to an 
obtuse point. 
The length, three feet eight inches and a half, of which the tail measures nine inches. 
The colour , a bright bay, inclining to yellow. A black line passes up the cheek to 
the eye, and from thence back and downwards to the angle of the mouth. Another line 
runs from the eye, along the margin of the semicordate pair of laminae, and terminates in 
a transverse band of black at the occiput. From thence begin fillets, which gradually be- 
come wider and blacker, and afterwards diminish in strength, become broken, and finally 
disappear about half way towards the tail. These fillets have a white dot, or break at 
every inch distance. On each side, at a small distance from the former, is a much smaller 
dark line, which is more broken, becomes fainter, and is lost at the same part of the body 
with the other fillets. The remainder of the body and tail is of a uniform light bay 
colour, which becomes weaker at the sides. The belly is white. 
