Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait121878roya).pdf/143

 behind the obit; the fourth across the occiput to the angle of the mouth; the two latter bands are composed of oval spots.

"In a specimen from the Anamallay Mountains the belly is black, and the white bands extend across, being wider than on the back; in a second specimen, of which the locality is unknown, the belly is white, each ventral having a blackish margin. The young Ophiophagus might well be mistaken for a snake of another genus.

"Major Beddome says the young Ophiophagus is very like the Dipsas Dendrophila, an innocent snake. The shields surrounding the occipitals are large, and give a distinctive character to the snake. There is one præ-orbital, seven upper labials, the third and fourth entering into the orbit, the third the largest, the seventh and jenent very low; temporals large, 2 by 2; ventrals 215-262; sub-caudals 80-100; the number of entire anterior sub-caudals varies much."

"The Ophiophagus is probably the largest and most deadly of the thanatophidia; fortunately, though widely distributed it is not very common. According to Günther it is found in al- most every part of the Indian continent; in the Andaman and Philippine Islands, in Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and according to Duméril in New Guinea. Major Beddome of Madras says he has killed one nearly fourteen feet in length near Cuttack in Bengal, where it is common. I had a living specimen of the dusky variety from Rangoon, nearly twelve feet in length."

"The Hamadryas, says Dr. Cautor, is very fierce, and is always ready not only to attack, but to pursue, when opposed; this too is a conspicuous trait in the Tenasserim serpent."

"As its name implies, it feeds upon other snakes, though probably when its usual food is not forthcoming, it is contented with birds, mammals, fish, frogs, &c.

"It resembles the Cobra, exept [sic] that it is longer in proportion to its size, and its hood is relatively smaller; it is, however more graceful in its movements, and turns more rapidly. It is occasionally seen with the snake-charmers who prize it highly as a show; but they say it is exceedingly dangerous to catch, and difficult to handle before its fangs are removed."

It will be noted in the foregoing description that the "brownish olive vanity, uniform anteriorly with the scales black-edged posteriorly" is referred only to the Phillippine Islands and Burmah.