10 
DESCRIPTION OF 
No. IX. 
ANGUIS. 
Squama Abclominales 308 
Squama Subcaudales 4 8 
Called by the natives, Chittul. 
The head small, in proportion to the length of the animal, hardly broader than the 
neck, oblong, roundish, obtuse. The front lamina trigonal ; the first pair oblong- 
square, large, and perforated by the nostrils ; the next pair sub-orbicular ; the central 
lamina between the eyes lancet-form ; the lateral sub-oval ; the semicordate pair ill 
shaped, with some large scales on the sides. 
The mouth small for the size of the subject. There are small fangs in the upper jaw, 
and behind them are four common holders, placed, as in the preceding, less obliquely 
than in No. VII.* The teeth are very slender and short. 
The eyes high, small, orbicular. The nostrils on the verge of the declivity of the 
obtuse rostrum. 
The trunk. The neck round, nearly of equal thickness ; the body more round than in 
any of the preceding angues, till within ten inches of the anus, when, as in them, it 
becomes compressed ; the belly is not carinated till near the tail. The tail flat, but 
shorter and less curve than in the others. The scales small, smooth, imbricate ; orbi- 
cular on the sides, on other parts ovate ; but those on the belly are orbicular with 
ciliated margins, and, in comparison with the other angues, much larger in size. 
The length five feet ; of the tail five inches ; of the head one inch and a half. 
Circumference of the head two inches and a quarter ; of the neck one inch and a half ; 
of the trunk, where thickest, four inches and a half. 
The colour , blue, with circular bands of yellowish white. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
A fowl bitten in the thigh by this serpent, expired in eight minutes. 
* Vide p. s. 
