252 Dr Smith on the Siiakes of Soutliern Africa. 



b. With ovato-cordate Head and Fangs. 



ViPEEA monta7ia. 



5^r^--^<^r of the Inhabitants. 



Ground colour, a dirty brownish black, the intensity of which varies in dif- 

 ferent specimens. Along the back there are two rows of large, black semi- 

 lunar spots, having their convexities directed towards each other, and their 

 margins surrounded by a narrow edging of dirty white. Below those, on 

 each side, is another row of similarly shaped and coloured spots, but of a 

 smaller size, and having their convexities pointing downwards. These are 

 separated from the centre rows by two white longitudinal lines, which are, 

 for the most part, continuous, though here and there occasionally inter- 

 rupted. The two lateral rows are not well seen on the sides of the neck, 

 but the two central ones extend distinctly forwards, along the upper sur- 

 face of the head, as far as the eyes ; though, in the latter situation, the 

 spots are of an oblong, instead of a semilunar shape. Between the side 

 rows and the abdomen the colour is variegated, black, and dirty white ; the 

 scuta, themselves are of the latter hue, and mottled with black or blackish 

 blue ; indeed, in many examples, the latter is the prevailing colour. Head 

 somewhat quadrangular, with its posterior extremity a good deal broader 

 than the neck, and, like the body, covered above by ovate arid carinated 

 scales. Eyes moderately large, and placed well forward. Nostrils close to 

 the tip of the nose. Thickness, as in the two preceding species, dimi- 

 nishes rapidly about the anus. Tail slender, pointed, and about /2 th of the 

 whole length of the snake, which is generally between sixteen and twenty 

 inches. Greatest circumference seldom more than that of a man's thumb. 

 Scuta generally about 132. Squamse about 20. Motion rather slow ; dis- 

 position ferocious, and bite poisonous ; though not invariably fatal. 



The above approaches so close in its characters to the Colu- 

 ber Atropos of Shaw *, L' Atropos of Lacepede -|-, that I feel 

 disposed to view it as the same snake. 



It is commonly found amongst short grass, in dry mountain- 

 ous situations, all over Southern Africa. 



Variety. 



Ground-colour cinereous, with four rows of spots, similarly arranged and 

 shaped as in the sort just described, but their colour, instead of being 

 black, is reddish-brown, with lighter centres. 



NAIA. 



a. With loose Skin on the sides irfthe Neck, and Fangs. 



Naia capensis. 



Ringhals Slang of the Inhabitants. 



Above, black and dirty white, the colours disposed in alternate waving trans- 

 verse bands. The black is the prevailing or sole colour towards the head, 



* General Zoology, vol. iii. part 2. p. 404. 



-f- Histoire Naturelle des Serpens, torn. ii. fol. 134. 4to. Paris, 17^9/ 



