8 DE S C R I P T ION OF
No. VII.
ANGUIS.
Sqiiama; Abdominales 332~l
Squama Subcaudales 40 J
Called by the natives Shootur sun.
The head hardly thicker than the neck, extremely small, oblong, flattish on the
crown and sides, obtuse. The larger lamina twelve in number. One in front trigonal,
convex, the pair next behind, oblong square, and perforated by the nostrils, the next
pair orbicular ; the central lamina between the eyes broad, pentagonal ; the lateral,
small, roundish ; the semicordate pair long, with a thin lamina near the point, on each
side.
The viouth large; the jaws of equal length. A small fang was found in the upper
jaw, on each side, with three common teeth immediately behind them, disposed rather
obliquely, in respect to the palatal rows. The rest of the teeth very minute, curve,
reflex.
The eyes orbicular. The nostrils nearly vertical.
The trunk. The neck extremely small, long, round ; the body disproportionately
thick, the sides declivous, the belly carínate. The tail flat, somewhat curve, round
pointed. The scales carínate, imbricate; ovate on the back, on other parts orbicular,
those on the carina of the belly not larger than the others.
The length three feet eleven inches ; of the tail four inches and a half; of the head,
three fourths of an inch. Circumference of the head, one inch; of the trunk, where
thickest, (in its collapsed state) four inches three-cjuarters.
The colour, a dark blue, intermixed with green. The neck crossed with bands of
greenish yellow ; and broader bands of the same colour across the sides and the tail.
OBSERVATIONS.
I n the dimensions of this and the other subjects, allowance must be made for the
change produced by the spirits.
A small specimen, measuring in length, one foot two inches one-fourth accompanied
the large one. It was in every respect completely formed, and coloured like the motlier ;
and one of nine which Mr. Russell found on opening her belly, each contained in a
distinct egg.
The common teeth behind the fangs, in this and the three following subjects, is a
very remarkable circumstance. The only instance I have ever met with of a similar
anomaly in the teeth, was in the Boa, No. III. of the Coromandel Collection.*
* P. 3. The position of die teeth is distinclly sliowii in the Anatomical Plate, No. XLV. of that work.
I N D I A N SERPENTS.
No. VIII.
ANGUIS.
Sfmamce Abdominales 33 8 1
' 386
Squamie Subcaudales 48 J
Called by the Natives Kalla Shootur Sun.
The head small, a little broader than the neck, ovate, flattish on the crown and the
sides. The front lamina trigonal; the pair perforated by the nostrils oblong, large;
the next pair smaller, sub-orbicular ; the central lamina between the eyes, short,
resembling the point of a lancet ; the lateral oval; the semicordate pair narrow, deeply
cleft at the base, and several lamina: on each side.
The mouth wide ; the under jaw somewhat shorter than the upper. There is a
small fang on each side of the upper jaw, behind each of which, in a line more parallel
to the palatal rows than in the preceding subject, are three common holders. The
rest of the teeth are curve, as usual, but very small.
The eyes high, small, orbicular. The nostrils nearly vertical, large.
The trunk. The neck slender, round, swelling gradually into the body, which is
rounder, and more proportionally shaped than any of the angues described in the
present fasciculus ; the back convex, the sides declivous, the belly earinated. The tail
more curve and obtuse, than in the others, and mucli thicker in the middle, but the
margins thin, as in them. Most of the scales earinated ; on the neck oval, on other
parts ovate, or orbicular, all imbricated : those on the belly not bigger than the
rest.
The laigth, three feet eleven ; of the tail, Ave inches and a half; of the head, threefourths
of an inch. Circumference of the head, one inch.
The colo7Lr. The neck a bluish black, with yellow bands ; the back likewise of a
bluish black, but some sliades lighter ; the sides and belly, yellow, encircled by faint
darkish bands, to the end of the tail.
REMARKS.
No drawing accompanied the specimen of this serpent, and allowance should be
made for alteration of colour produced by the spirits.