22 
THE THAN A TO PH IDIA OE INDIA. 
This species is very common all over the north-west Hima¬ 
layas. Dr. Stoliczka says, “ Especially between 5 and 8000 
feet, but on the Hatu Mountain near Kotegurh, and about 
Serahan, I observed it as high as 10,000 feet. It feeds prin¬ 
cipally on mice.” The largest specimen he saw was 34 inches 
in length. In describing the character of H liimalayanus Dr. 
Stoliczka says :—“ The upper ground colour of this snake 
varies from brownish-green to almost brownish-black, but 
generally with some lighter spots, bands, or marblings, and 
that of the lower part is of a greenish-yellow purple tinge, 
the purplish colour sometimes predominating, especially on the 
sub-caudals ; the whole of the lower side is more or less strongly 
marbled with greenish-black, rarely is the under side nearly all 
black, but the chin is always yellowish. The upper labials are 
yellowish-white, and in continuation of this colour, there is in 
younger specimens a very conspicuous whitish lateral band oc- 
cupying the base of the ventrals, and the adjoining row of scales. 
In old specimens this lateral band is only indicated on the 
throat, becoming obsolete on the body.” 
He also says:—“ All the specimens which I examined had 
only twenty-one series of scales. One nearly full grown, from 
the neighbourhood of Kotegurh (north-east of Simla) measures 
25J inches, of which the tail is 8J, terminating with a very 
small single sub-caudal scale. Ventrals 160; sub-caudals 42.” 
“ It is met with on the paths generally after rains and in 
shady places between overhanging forest trees.” 
I have no information as to the degree of venomous power 
it possesses. 
HYPNALE, Fits. 
Hypnale nepa. 
The genus Ilypnale has only one species, Hypnale nepa, or 
the “ Carawilla ” of Southern India. 
Coluber nepa, Laur. 
Carawala, Davy. 
Cophias hypnale, Merr. Tent. 
Trigonocephalus hypnale, tVayl. 
Trimesurus ? ceylonensis, Gray. 
Trigonocephalus zara, Gray. 
I have had no opportunity of studying this snake from 
nature, but Gunther gives the following description of it:— 
“ Head broad, triangular; snout covered with numerous 
small shields above, the crown of the head being normally 
shielded. Body of moderate length, with keeled scales in 
seventeen rows. Tail rather short, not prehensile, terminating 
in a short conical scale. Sub-caudals two-rowed.” “ Ventrals 
140-152, sub-caudals 31-45.” “ Brown or grey or reddish olive, 
with a double dorsal series of brown or black spots; the spots 
of both sides sometimes confluent into cross bands. Sides and 
belly finely marbled and dotted with brown or black. Upper 
lip brown or black, well marked by a darker line running from 
behind the eye to the angle of the mouth; a more or less 
distinct white or whitish temporal streak above the dark line, 
sometimes continued along the side of the neck, with an inter¬ 
rupted brown band above and below it. Chin and throat 
blackish or brownish, variegated with yellow or grey. Some¬ 
times specimens occur of a more uniform coloration: the 
dorsal spots, the dark temporal line, and a pair of whitish spots 
on each side of the throat are the most constant markings. 
Other specimens are flesh-coloured, with small black markings 
as described. All these varieties may be seen in foetus taken 
out of the same female.” 
It is found in Southern India, Malabar, and the Anamallay 
Mountains; also in Ceylon. The largest specimen Gunther 
has seen is 19 inches long, the tail measuring 2J inches. 
It is viviparous. Gunther says he has found in one female 
five perfectly developed foetus, 5 inches long, and in an¬ 
other seven eggs, which did not show any development of 
embryo. 
“ The Caravjala is much dreaded, although its bite is but ex¬ 
ceptionally fatal to man, and in such cases death does not occur 
before the lapse of some days.” 
I have had no opportunity of testing by experiment the pro¬ 
perties of this snake. 
Bussell describes it in his Indian Serpents, vol. ii. plate 22. 
