Dr Smith on ilie Snakes of' Southern Afrka. 25S 



and it is not till nearly two inches from that part that the white is dis- 

 tinctly seen. Towards the tail, as well as on it, the regular disposition of 

 the two colours is most clearly marked, and the bands" are most directly 

 transverse. Below, the general colour is black, with the scuta, that are 

 more than a few inches behind the chin, white at their extremities. Be- 

 tween those that are thus marked and the head, the space is a deep shining 

 jet black, except at two points, where some plates throughout are nearly 

 white, and thereby give rise to two broad transverse light-coloured bands. 

 Tail slender, tapering, terminated by a shining horny point, and not quite 

 ith of the whole length of the reptile, which is generally from two feet six 

 to three feet. Head depressed, narrow before, a little dilated behind, and 

 somewhat broader than the neck ; covered above by plates, of which the 

 nasal or most anterior one is triangular, its apex extending upwards and 

 backwards, whilst its base is directed downwards, to form the anterior por- 

 tion of the upper lip. Eyes prominent, nostrils large, and opening back- 

 wards. Body broad and flattish, with a loose fold of skin on each side of 

 the neck, which it can extend at pleasure, and form into small wing-like 

 or thin membranous processes, like what is done by the Coluber Naia of 

 Linnaeus. Scales carinated, with those of the two lowermost rows larger 

 than any of the others. Greatest circumference about the middle of the 

 body, and that is seldom more than three or three inches and a-half. Scuta 

 usually about 130. Squamae about 43. 



The motion of this snake is very rapid, its disposition is very 

 fierce, often almost apparently courting opposition, and its bite, 

 in all the instances in which I have tried it, has soon occasioned 

 death. 



It delights in warm sandy situations, and is found pretty ge- 

 nerally diffused over the whole of Southern Africa. 



h. Withont any loose Skin on the Neck, but zmth Fangs. 



5. NAIA Somersetta. 



Nacht Slang or Night Snake of the Inhabitants. 



Ground colour above, a brick red or orange colour, and intersected by twenty- 

 four or twenty-five black rings, which are generally of greatest breadth 

 about the centre of the back, or under the belly. The one next to the 

 head is by much the largest, and above has a pointed extension in front, 

 which runs a short way along the crown of the head. At some distance 

 before this ring, on the hinder part of the head, an irregular black spot is 

 observed on each side ; and from the upper lip of one side, to the same 

 place on the opposite, directly cutting the eyes, extends a narrow trans- 

 verse black band. Many of the black rings on the body have above an inter- 

 rupted edging of yellowish white. Colour below a dirty reddish-white, 

 more or less deeply tinged here and there with yellow. Head depressed, 

 inclined to ovate, and its sides slightly dilated behind, thereby giving to it 

 a little superiority in point of breadth over the neck. Above it is covered 

 by large plates, the foremost of which, or the nasal one, is considerably 

 elevated above the others, and triangular, with its apex extending upwards 

 and backwards, whilst its laase, which :is slightly arched, is downwards, and 

 forms the anterior part of the upper lip. The thickness of the body is 

 pretty nearly the same throughout, and does not exceed that of a man's 

 thumb. It increases but little behind the neck, yet it diminishes consider^ 

 ably and rather abruptly about the vent. Tail thickish along its whole 

 length, terminated by a horny point, and measuring about -^^ of the whole 

 4 . 



