INDIAN SERPENTS. 
21 
The abdominal scuta are of a yellowish white, with a black, or dusky, dot, on each side: 
the sub-caudal squamae have no dots. 
On comparing a male and female of this species, the principal difference observed was, 
that the trunk of the female, near the anus, being much thicker than in the male, made the 
tail appear to taper more rapidly. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This is one of the most common snakes at Vizagapatam. Half a dozen have been found 
in a night, crossing the road to the Chief’s country house. Its bite is said by some to be 
mortal, but the snake-catchers affirm the contrary, and that it only produces biles and erup¬ 
tions, a month or two after the bite. The absence of poison organs confirms the first opinion ; 
the other, though improbable, is so prevalent, that it ought not to be wholly rejected, till 
after further inquiry. 
In the month of December, a vigorous subject of this species was made to bite a chicken, 
which he did very fiercely and repeatedly in different parts. The chicken suffered pain, 
but showed no signs of poison. 
At the distance of two hours, some feathers were plucked from the pinion of the same 
chicken, and the snake, after two or three snaps, fixing his holders eagerly in the bare skin, 
held fast for more than a minute. The chicken at first fluttered, and screamed from pain, 
but soon became quiet. In about half a minute, greatly to my surprise, she let fall her head, 
and shut her eyes, as if dead. The position of the wing, prevented the cause of this being 
at first discovered. The snake, unperceivedly, had wreathed its tail round the chicken’s 
neck, and the bird, had it not been rescued, would inevitably have been strangled. Soon 
after being disengaged, it recovered perfectly. 
A second chicken was bitten in like manner, without any consequence; care having been 
taken to prevent the snake twisting its tail round the bird’s neck. 
In the month of May, a smaller snake of the same kind was made to bite a young chicken 
on the bare breast, but no ill consequence ensued. 
These experiments were made merely to remove local prejudices ; for I myself enter¬ 
tained no doubt of the reptile being not venomous. 
