Page:The poisonous snakes of India. For the use of the officials and others residing in the Indian Empire (IA poisonoussnakeso01ewar).pdf/45

 DABOIA,

There is only one species of this genus-the Daboia Russellii, Russell's Viper, Tic-polonga, or Daboia elegans, or Chain Viper, Uloo Bora in and around Calcutta (Fayrer), in Bengal, Jessur, Sial-chunder Amaiter (Fayrer). Giinther's description of this viper is as follows :-"Greyish" (light chocolate colour) " brown, with three series of large black, wbite- edged rings, those of the middle series ovate, those of the outer circular; sometimes very small black, white-edged ocelli are scattered between the rings. A yellow line on each side of the upper surface of the head, the two lines convergent on the snout. Rostral and labial shields yellow, with brown margins; a sub-triangular brown, black-cdged 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 have seen it in Rajputana and Guzerat. It is said to prevail iii most parts of India. Fayrer says “it is probably found all over the plains of India, as well as in the hills." In Kulu it has been observed 5000 feet high, and in Kashmir 6000 feet high, but generally not biglier than from 2000 to 4000 feet. According to Stoliczka, it is fond of basking in sunny places.

"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 Katuka Rekula Poda.' He says 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 elevon and a half hours. Death was not in any case so rapid as after the cobra bite; but, though slower in its