INDIAN SERPENTS. 
41 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Chickens bitten by this snake showed no signs of poison ; they suffered pain, but the 
parts about the bite did not change colour, and the birds were not visibly disordered. 
It is a common snake at Vizagapatam; and is sometimes found of a much larger size than 
the subject now described. 
No. XXXV, 
COLUBER. 
Abdominal Scuta l 88 \ 
124 B. 
Sub-caudal Squama 5 5 J 
Called by the natives Kalla Tutta, 
The head somewhat broader than the neck, ovate, depressed, covered with ten laminae: 
the anterior, emarginate; the first pair perforated by the nostrils; the next larger, and 
roundish ; the lateral laminae of the three between the eyes, conical, the middle lamina, 
broad shield-form; the occipital pair, semi-cordate. 
The mouth small; the jaws nearly equal. The teeth small, regular; two palatal rows, and 
one marginal, in the upper jaw: some of the hinder teeth on each side, longer than the others. 
The eyes small, orbicular, prominent. The first pair oflaminae perforated by the nostrils , 
which are very small. 
The trunk round, about the size of a large goose-quill, and nearly of equal thickness. The 
scales smooth, sub-orbicular, imbricate. The length, eight inches. The tail very taper, 
sharp pointed: measures only one inch and a fourth. 
The colour approaches to an olive yellow. The head singularly marked with three trian¬ 
gular, black, fillets, with waving white margins: the first, pointing to the nostrils, extends 
to the eyes; the second, springing from the shield-form lamina, crosses the semi-cordate, 
and is continued, diverging, to the throat; the third, broader than either of the other two, 
touches the semi-cordate laminae, and diverges on the neck. Along the whole of the trunk, 
and tail, are about thirty-four transverse fillets, with waving, white margins, which continue, 
without fading in colour, to the end of the tail. The scuta of a pearl-colour. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
The above description was made from a living subject, found at Vizagapatam, in April, 
17SS, which afforded an opportunity of attempting to make it bite chickens and pigeons; 
but, though fresh caught, and very lively, it could never be provoked to bite either: from 
the absence, however, of poisoning organs, it may safely be pronounced harmless. 
I have been more particular in respect to this snake, as it is not rare, and frequently passes 
. > 
for the Cobra Monil; under which name it had been sent to me, in spirits, from Ganjam, 
Masulipatam, and other places, before I met with it alive. 
