Page:The poisonous snakes of India. For the use of the officials and others residing in the Indian Empire (IA poisonoussnakeso01ewar).pdf/33

 OPHIOPHAGUS. 15

kill them from a distance, and to inflict a death-wound as near to the head as possible. Brown or blackish brown above, uniform or with a dorsal series of reddish brown spots ; neck with an indistinct arrow-shaped mark. Anterior part of the belly with large quadrangular blackish-brown spots, posterior part and lower side of the tail more or less clouded with brown. Young specimens have indistinct square, dark spots on the back, arranged in quincunx, and a bright yellow collar broadly edged with black."