108 VENOMS 



wider on the belly ; snout black, occiput yellow ; tail annulate, 

 black and orange. 



Total length, 490 millimetres; tail 30. 



Habitat. — Colombia and Ecuador. 



(27) E. ancoralis. — Scales in 15 rows ; 258 ventrals ; 81 sub- 

 caudals. 



Colour : Body with 16 sets of black annuli disposed in threes, 

 the middle one of each set a little wider ; head light in front, 

 spotted with black ; an anchor-shaped black mark on the occiput 

 and nape. 



Total length, 780 millimetres ; tail 57. 



Habitat: Ecuador. 



(28) E. nardiiccii. — Scales in 15 rows ; 240 — 315 ventrals ; 

 15 — 33 subcaudals. 



Colour black, beneath with yellow or red cross-bands or trans- 

 versely oval spots, sometimes extending as triangular blotches up 

 the sides ; head with a yellow cross-band. 



Total length, 720 millimetres ; tail 50. 



Habitat : Eastern Ecuador, North-eastern Peru, Bolivia. 



The species of the genus Elaps, which are remarkable for the 

 brightness and beauty of their colours, are generally found in 

 forests. 



" The traveller," says Neuwied, " who ventures ilito the great 

 Brazilian forests, where the ground is covered with leafy plants, 

 is astonished to see shining through the verdure the black and red 

 rings of the beautiful Coral Snake. Uncertainty as to whether 

 the creature is dangerous alone prevents him from seizing it. The 

 body of the snake is not lithe enough to enable it to climb trees. 

 Its food consists of small animals." 



Dr. Lacerda relates that the Austrian naturalist Wertheimer, 

 when in the Brazilian settlement of Philadelphia, was bitten by 

 a Coral Snake in the back of the hand. The usual symptoms of 

 poisoning manifested themselves immediately, and the unfortunate 

 man died twelve hours later. Nevertheless, the small size and 



