HH 
YIPERELGE. 
edged ocelli are scattered between tLe rings. A yellow line on 
each side of the upper surface of the head, the two lines con¬ 
vergent on the snout. Rostral and labial shields yellow with 
brown margins ; a sub-triangular brown, black-edged spot below 
the eye. Belly uniform yellowish or marbled with brownish ; 
generally more or less numerous semicircular brown spots on 
the hinder margins of the ventral shields. Ventrals 163-170; 
sub-caudals 45-60.” 
I would remark on this, that the specimens I have examined 
vary a good deal in the form and arrangement of the rings and 
spots and of the coloured patches on the head, but the descrip¬ 
tion well denotes their general appearance. The Daboia or 
Russell’s Yiper, is called by the natives about Calcutta “ Uloo 
Bora,” from the uloo grass in which it is often found. In 
Bengal it is called “Jessur,” “ Siah-chunder Amaiter.” It is 
common in Bengal, and is frequently caught in the Botanic 
Gardens near Calcutta. It is common in the south of India, 
Ceylon, and Burmah. Gunther says it is known to Europeans 
in India as the “ Cobra monil,” Beaded snake, or Chain Yiper. I 
do not know whether it is found in Central India,* the North- 
Western, Central Provinces, and Punjab; if so, it is less 
common than in the south. 
It is the “ Tic-polonga” of Ceylon, and is justly dreaded there 
as a very deadly snake. Dr. Russell describes it in his work on 
Indian snakes, under the name of “ Ivatuka Rekula Poda.” He 
says it is doubtful whether it is not as venomous as the Cobra. 
My experiments incline me to agree with Dr. Russell, and to 
give it, at all events, a place next to the Cobra. Fowls bitten 
by this snake expired in from thirty-five seconds to several 
minutes ; dogs, in from seven minutes to several hours; a cat in 
fifty-seven minutes ; a horse in eleven and a half hours. Death 
was not in any case so rapid as after the Cobra bite, but though 
slower in its action, the poison seemed just as deadly. The blood 
usually remains fluid after death from the poison of the Daboia, 
whereas after Cobra poisoning it generally coagulates firmly on 
being removed from the heart and great vessels. The Daboia 
is nocturnal in its habits ; in confinement it is sluggish, and does 
not readily strike, unless roused and irritated, when it bites 
with great force and determination. When disturbed it hisses 
fiercely, and when it strikes, does so with great vigour. Its 
long moveable fangs are very prominent objects, and with them 
it is capable of inflicting a very deep as well as poisoned 
wound. The markings on its body are very beautiful, and 
justify the synonym V. elegans. It lives on small animals, 
such as rats, mice, and frogs. My snake-man says it will go 
into water. It is, however, terrestrial in its habits ;f its 
loud hissing when disturbed is calculated to warn those who 
come within its dangerous proximity. Though so deadly, 
it does not appear by the returns to cause many deaths, 
but this may be owing to the fact that the natives seldom 
know, often do not see, the snake that has inflicted the fatal 
wound. It is much less known, and its misdeeds are therefore 
doubtless often ascribed to the Cobra. In the official returns 
of deaths from snake bites, a large number are attributed to 
snakes unknown. If the real offender could be detected, it is 
probable that the Daboia would have a more prominent place 
than it occupies at present. 
It is apparently a hardy reptile. I had one about forty-four 
inches in length, which lived for a whole year without food or 
watei; it obstinately refused either, and was vigorous and 
venomous to the last. It died suddenly at the School of Art, 
where it had been sent to be figured. 
I have heard, I know not how far it may be true, that it 
a 7 ' B “° rd S f yS 18 folmd in 0entral India.— Proc. As. Soc. Bengal 
August, 1870, p. 257. It is probably found all over tbe plains of India, as wel 
as m tbe Mis. It has been found in the Himalaya, as high as 5000 feet in Kuln 
m Gasnmir up to 6000 feet; but it is more common at from 2000 to 4000 feet 
Stoliczka says it is found in sunny places. 
t Tennent says that it climbs trees in Oeylon.-JV«f. History of Ceylon, p. 305. 
often kills cattle, biting them when grazing. It attains to the 
length of 50 inches, probably more, but I have seen none of 
greater length. A specimen now before me is 44 inches long 
and 41 in circumference. The hill specimens are smaller. 
ECHIS. 
Echis carinata. 
The genus Echis contains only one Indian species, Echis 
carinata. The native name is “ Afae” in Delhi; it is unknown 
to the natives in the neighbourhood of Calcutta. 
Pseudoboa carinata, Schneid. 
Echis carinata, Merr. Tent. 
Dr. Russell has described and figured this Yiper in his great 
work on Serpents as “ Horatta Pam,” vol. i. pi. 2. 
It is much smaller than the Daboia; it is venomous, but 
Gunther says its bite is not known to have proved fatal. This 
I think is very doubtful; one in my possession killed a fowl in 
four minutes, another in two minutes, and a dog in about four 
hours.* I have received some very fine living specimens 
from Delhi 20 to 23 inches long. The Echis is a terrestrial 
* Extracts from the Report of Dr. Imlach, Civil Surgeon at Shikarpore, dated 
14th February, 1855, addressed to the Superintending Surgeon, Sind, on the snake 
season of 1854. — Transactions of Medical and Physical Society of Bombay, No. III., 
new series, 1855-56, p. 80. 
“ Six months may be regarded on the average as the period during which snakes 
wander about, commencing from about the earlier part of May, and continuing 
until towards the latter part of October, or according as the cold season may set 
in, sooner or later. 
The number of cases reported have amounted to 306 ; the mortality among this 
number to 63; giving a percentage of fatal cases of 20‘58 : not a very great pro¬ 
portion after all, considering the next to nothing remedial measures usually adopted 
by the gentle Sindians. 
From among the 306 cases of snake-bite, 262 occurred in males, the remainder 
44 having been in the instance of females : and the comparative mortality of 
males and females being respectively 53 and 10 : giving the relative percentage 
mortality among males as 20'21, whilst on the part of females there is a slight 
increase, the proportion amounting to 22'72. 
The small number of cases occurring amongst females (and of these only 10 
fatal cases for the season) shows that the natives of this Collectorate [Upper Sind] 
have not resorted to ‘ mortality from snake-bite,’ as a means of accounting for any 
murderous deeds : a practice which might have been supposed to exist among a 
class of people who, till within the past few years, had a sort of acknowledged claim 
to the lives of their female relations when caught in the act of, or suspected of 
fleshly weakness, and when of course it would have been their aim, as a matter of 
attempted self-protection, to have given forth as fair a reason for death as possible. 
The Kuppur, which I take to be the Scytab bysonata, and which to me appears 
simply to differ from the West Indian snake of that name in regard to colour, is 
without exception the most deadly jsoisonous snake in Sind; and a reference to the 
police returns shows that in by far the greatest majority of cases, serious injury 
and death have been caused from the bite of this species. 
It frequently is 23 inches long. Fifteen inches may be regarded as about the 
average length of the Kuppur; the larger, and I imagine older specimens, have but 
little exceeded in this, but their diameter has by about double exceeded that of the 
ordinary size of the reptile, which measures somewhere from about 2 to 2 } inches 
round the largest part of the body. 
The head, covered with very small scales, is of a flat irregular hexagonal shape, 
the greatest length of side being from the point where the mouth ends backward. 
I much regret that it is not in my power to send a painting of the reptile. The 
extreme ferocity of expression, if one may use the term, is, I think, peculiar to the 
Kuppur. Compared with the head and body, the neck is comparatively small, the 
actual tail portion fines off somewhat abruptly, and barely exceeds an inch and a 
half in length, and is remarkably small compared to the circumference of the actual 
body. The marks on the head probably aid towards adding to an evil expression, 
but still, noting the general habits, you cannot help seeing that the brilliant eye 
indicates a vicious inclination, and even, however long you may leave the Kupjiur 
unmolested, still you always find his crest erect and his head fixedly in the direction 
of the party who may be watching him, ready for the defensive. Opportunity having 
been frequent, I have over and over again watched his remaining for long in one 
position, and even when the Kuppur thinks fit to avoid his opponent, still the change 
of position is caused by a peculiar sliding movement backwards, the head invariably 
being directed towards his enemy. 
The marks on the head, or rather what may be termed the forehead of the Kup¬ 
pur, exhibit in white and brown, somewhat the appearance of a cross; the ground 
mark of the body is of a dull muddy grey colour, the sides of the body being 
marked along with crescentic double marks of black and white, the concavity of 
each being towards the abdomen. 
In several specimens of this snake I have observed double or rather two fangs on 
each side of the jaw, but I omitted to make special note as to whether this is of 
common or unusual occurrence. 
The poison of this snake introduced into the system of the fowl induces death in 
about three quarters of a minute. 
Death in a fowl occurs much in the same way as in the human subject; the 
mucous membrane is powerfully acted on, the head gradually droops, the legs give 
way, and the creature roils on its side in the last agony of passing life.” 
The “ Kuppur” I think must be the Echis carinata, as the description corre¬ 
sponds with that of this Yiper; and this would show that it is more dangerous than 
Gunther supposes, and corresponds with the opinion expressed by Major MacMahon, 
Deputy Commissioner of Delhi, who says it has the repute of being a deadly snake. 
