14 
DESCRIPTION OF 
To this definition the several subjects alluded to above agree in general ; but I do 
not comprehend how the serpents No. XVII. XX. XXX. and XXXIII. of the 
Coromandel Collection, came to be placed by Mr. Schneider in the genus Hydrus ; 
seeing all the four want the characteristic tail, and none of them possess the general 
habitus. In regard to two of them, No. XX and XXXIII, Dr. Shaw expresses his 
opinion that they are not very properly stationed in that genus." 
No. XII. 
ANGUIS. 
Squama Abdominales 228 
Squama Subcaudales 3 8 
Called by the natives Shiddil. 
The head not thicker than the neck, small, short-ovate. The first pair of lamina 
square, rounded at the corners, and perforated by the nostrils ; the next pair small 
round ; the centre lamina between the eyes oval ; the lateral cordate ; on each side of 
the semicordate laminae are several large scales. 
The mouth narrow, the jaws of equal length. There are no fangs ; the teeth very 
small. The eyes high and globular. The nostrils large, nearly vertical. 
The trunk cylindrical to near the tail, where it becomes slightly compressed. The 
tail short, flat, and curve. The scales on the occiput and part of the neck, smooth, on 
the body carinated, and being arranged lozen-wise the carina present as many parallel 
ridges on the trunk and the tail as there are rows of scales. There is little difference 
in point of size, of the middle abdominal scales and those on other parts. 
The length one foot and a half, including the tail, which measures only two inches. 
The colour buff, with broad rings of black, or dark blue, from the neck to the tip of 
the tail, which is black. Between the rings on the back, but not on the abdomen, faint 
darkish spots are interspersed. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This serpent was also received from Tranquebar, and its bite is held by the natives 
to be dangerous though not mortal. It produces, as they pretend, a burning heat ovei 
the whole body. It certainly has no venomous apparatus. 
* Zool: Vol. Ill; p. 569 , 57 0 . 
