CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. HID 



other two genera are represented by not more than two species oacli. 

 The species are not dangerous, with the exception of a few of tlie 

 hirger species of Elaps. 



ELAPS Schneider. 



Elajjs Schneider, Historia Ainiihibionun, II, 1801, p. 289.— DrMl^:RiL and Bibron, 

 Erp. Gen., VII, 1854, p. 1191.— GCnther, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus., 1858, 

 p. 229.— Cope, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 1, 1875, p. .34. 



Maxillary bone without solid teeth behind the perforated tooth. 

 Cephalic plates normal; rostral not modified. Two nasal plates; no 

 loreal; oculars few. Scales not keeled, without fossa. Subcaudal scu- 

 tell.T in two rows; anal plate divided. Pupil a vertical oval. Head lit- 

 tle distinct. 



This genus embraces from twenty to thirty species of the neotropical 

 realm, three of which have their principal habitat in the southern por- 

 tions of the nearctic. They are of rather elongate body and short tail, 

 and have small eyes. They approximate in general appearance tbe 

 CalamarinB Colubridtie, so that their discrimination, except on exami- 

 nation of the dentition, from snakes of this group can only be accom 

 plished by experts in species characters. The scutellation of the head 

 is exactly that of the genus Tantilla. The coloration is brilliant, con- 

 sisting of red and black, with less yellow, arranged in rings or parts of 

 rings. The red is generally the ground color, and the black rings are 

 either single or in sets of three. The latter may be much narrower 

 than the ground color, or may be so wide as to reduce it to very small 

 proportions {E. scmipartitus, E. imperator). The epidermis is beauti- 

 fully iridescent, especially on the black spaces. The colors are much 

 like those of the mineral labradorite, and are probably due to a similar 

 physical cause, namely, a mi(;rosco])ic lamination of the surface. On 

 direct and antero-posterior views the color is peacock purple; on trans- 

 verse views it passes from brassy yellow through brassy green to 

 maroon and brown. The colors do not appear if the scales are wet. 



The bite of some of the larger species, as E. surmamensis and E. 

 marcgravii, is said to be dangerous, but that of the smaller ones is 

 innocuous to man and the larger animals. 



Three species are found within the limits of the nearctic realm, which 

 dilfer as follows : 



I. Temporal scales, 1-1; a black ring immediately behind head; internasals nuuh 



smaller than prefrontals. 



Tail one-seventh to one-eighth total length; black rings wide, covering from 7 

 to 20 scales; red sjjaces above and below black-spotted; three or four black 

 rings on tail; muzzle and chin black E. fiilriiis. 



Tail one-Bcveuth total length; black rings narrow, covering 2-3 scales; red 

 spaces above and below not black-s])otted; tail with seven black rings; uose 

 and chin red A', distant. 



II. Temporal scales, 1-2; internasals eciual or nearly equal ])refrontals; a red ring 



immediately behind head. 

 Tail very short, one-fourteenth total length ; black rings G or 7 scales wide, with 

 very wide yellow l)orders; interspaces above and below unspotted; tail with 

 two black rings ; uose and chin black E, euryxanth us. 



