VENOMOUS SERPENTS. 183 



mark on the neck is only seen in young individuals. Feeds 

 on frogs. 



2. Naja Haje. — Analogous to the preceding, but it 

 has a less extensile neck ; a head more conical ; a rostral 

 plate salient ; labial plates broader, and different tints. 

 S. 208 -f 58. 23 rows of scales. Brownish, varied with 

 dark and pale spots. Inhabits Egypt ; a climatal variety 

 exists at the Cape : it has a system of colours little con- 

 stant, varying from brown to yellow, and even to white. 

 It is the aspis, proj^erly so called, celebrated in antiquity ; 

 and also in our days by the tricks which the sorcerers of 

 Eg}^t perform with it. 



3. Naja Bungarus. — Figure more slender, and size 

 less than the preceding species. Muzzle short, and a 

 little truncated at the tip ; eyes large ; tail attenuated ; 

 and dorsal scales a little larger than the rest. S. 250 + 

 30, simple, and +80 divided; or 252 + 23 sim. + 118 

 div. 19 rows of scales. Above a blue-black, relieved by 

 numerous angular whitish marks. Inhabits the Islands 

 of Java and Sumatra ; a very rare species. 



4. Naja Bungaroides. — Resembling the last in the 

 colours ; but the head more broad and clumsy ; the scales 

 of equal size ; the tail shorter, and the eyes smaller. S. 

 214 + 52 simple plates. 21 rows of scales. 



5. Naja porphyrica. — Habit of the spectacle snake ; 

 head of less size; has 15 rows of scales only; muzzle 

 very obtuse, &c. Above blue-black ; sides rosy-purple ; 

 below yellow. S. 180 + 50, in part sunple. Found on 

 the sandy downs of New Holland. 



6. Naja H^machates. — A species well characterized 

 by its massive figure ; by its head broad at the base, and 

 pointed at the snout ; and by its carinated scales, dis- 

 posed in 19 rows. The neck is a little extensile. S. 

 137 + 40. Purplish-black, varied with yellow. Inhabits 

 the sandy plains of the Cape of Good Hope. 



7. Naja rhombeata. — Of smaller size than the last, 

 of which it has nearly the habit. 19 to 21 rows of scales 

 feebly carinated on the back. Tail extremely vigorous 

 and short. S. 134 + 21. No solid teeth behind the 

 fangs. Pale grey, below paler ; a series of lozenge- 



