OPHIOPHAGUS ELAPS. 341 



three post-oculars. Scales smooth, much imbricate, in transverse rows, in 

 fifteen series round the body, but in many more round the neck ; those of 

 the vertebral series are rather larger than the others. Ventrals more than 

 200 ; anal entire ; anterior subcaudals simple, posterior two-rowed, some- 

 times all bifid. Maxillary with a large fang in front, which is perforated at 

 the end, showing a longitudinal groove in front ; a second, small, simple tooth 

 at some distance behind the fang. 



Only one species is known. 



OpHIOPHAGUS ELAPS. 



Naja bungarus, Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 476, and in Verhand. Overz. Beziit. Nederl. Ind. Zool. 

 p. 71. pi. 10 (young). 



elaps, Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 485. 



vittata, Elliott, Madr. Journ. Lit. ^ Sci. xi. pi. 1. 



Hamadryas (liannah) opliiopliagus, Cantor, As. Res. xx. p. 87. pi. 10-12, and Mai. Rept. p. 116. 

 Trimeresm-us ophiophagus, Dum. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 1245. 

 Hamadryas elaps, Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 219. 



This snake is easily recognized by the large shields surrounding the occipitals. There is 

 generally one prseorbital ; only once have I found it divided into two, viz. in a specimen from 

 the PhiUppine Islands. Seven upper labials, the third and fourth entering the orbit, the 

 third the largest, the sixth and seventh very low; temporals large, 2+2. Ventrals 215-262 ; 

 subcaudals 80-100; the number of entire anterior subcaudals varies much. The colours of 

 the adult are subject to great variation : — 



a. Olive-green above ; the shields of the head, the scales of the neck, hinder part of the 

 body and of the tail edged with black ; trunk with numerous oblique, alternate black and 

 white bands converging towards the head ; lower parts marbled with blackish, or uniform 

 pale greenish : Malayan Peninsula, Bengal, Peninsula of Southern India. 



j3. Brownish olive, uniform anteriorly, with the scales black-edged posteriorly ; each scale 

 of the tail with a very distinct white, black-edged ocellus (as in Ptyas mucosus) : Philippine 

 Islands. 



y. Uniform brownish black, scales of the hinder part of the body and of the tail somewhat 

 lighter in the centre ; all the lower parts black, except the chin and throat, which are yellow : 

 Borneo. 



Young specimens have a much more varied coloration: they are black, with numerous 

 white, equidistant, narrow cross bands descending obliquely backwards; head with four 

 white cross bands : one occupies the extremity of the snout, the second across the posterior 

 fi-ontals, the third across the crown of the head, behind the orbit; the fourth across the 

 occiput to the angle of the mouth ; the two latter bands are composed of oval spots. In a 

 specimen from the Anamallay Mountains the belly is black, and the white bands extend 



