3 8 
DESCRIPTION OF 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This snake was found at Vizagapatam, in the month of April, and brought to me in an 
hour or two after it was caught. It appeared singularly alert in its movements, and snapped 
at every thing presented to it. In preparing to attack, it wreathed its neck, and part of the 
trunk, into close turns, and at the same time, retracting its head, presented, at a distance, 
something of the appearance of a hooded snake. When it snapped, the body being more 
raised by assistance of the tail, the wreaths were rapidly unwreathed, and the head darted 
obliquely forward, with a motion so rapid, that the animal, without rising from the ground, 
seemed to fly on his prey. In this manner it could unexpectedly seize an object which in 
appearance lay far beyond its reach. 
A chicken, intended for experiment, having made its escape, was accidentally pursued 
into the chamber where the snake had been left at liberty, and was no sooner perceived, than 
the snake flew furiously at him, snapped several times as lie passed, and soon seized and 
secured him, by wreathing round the body. In two minutes the bird was found dead, 
having been strangled by the snake’s tail. 
A second chicken was attacked in like manner, and had he not been relieved in time, 
would have suffered the same bite. Fie was bitten in several places, but without any conse¬ 
quence. 
It was remarkable that, ferocious as this snake appeared to be, he could not, when held 
in the hand, be provoked to bite a chicken repeatedly presented to him. 
No. XXXIII. 
COLUBER. 
Abdominal Scuta 15 2 j 
1232 . 
Sub-caudal. Squama: SO J 
Called by the natives Xeeli Koea. 
The head broader than the neck, broad-ovate, depressed; compressed on the sides towards 
the rostrum; covered with various laminae; the first pair, triagonal, small, between the 
nostrils; the next pair, quadrangular, somewhat larger; the shield-form lamina, between the 
eyes, is pointed; the lateral, sub-oval; the semi-cordate pair are very large; and on each side 
is an oblong, narrow, lamina: besides some others which are smaller. 
The mouth, wide; the lower jaw shorter than the upper. The teeth numerous, small, 
sharp, reflex; a marginal, and two palatal rows, in the upper jaw. 
