246 



pupil round; nostril between two nasals and the internasal; 

 loreal absent. Maxillary teeth 2 large, grooved fangs, separated 

 by an interspace from one to three small, feebly grooved 

 teeth; anterior mandibular teeth longest. Body round, covered 

 with smooth scales without pits, in 15 — 25 rows, more on the 

 neck, disposed obliquely; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate; 

 subcaudals all or greater part in two rows. 

 Distribution. Africa; S. Asia. 



Key to the Indo-Australian species. 



A. Internasals in contact with the praeocular i. A^. triptidians p. 246. 



B. Internasals separated from the praeocular ; a pair of 



large shields behind the parietals 2. N. biingartis p. 249. 



I. Naja tripudians Merrem. 



Naja tripudians^ Merrem, Tent. 1820, p, 147. 



Naja tripudians^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Ill 1896, p. 380 (s. syn.). 



Rostral more broad than deep, visible from above; inter- 

 nasals as long as or shorter than the praefrontals, in contact 

 with the praeocular; frontal as long as or longer than its 

 distance from the rostral, as broad as or broader than the 

 supraocular; one prae- and three (two) postoculars; temporals 

 2+3 or 3 + 3; seven upper labials, third deepest, third and 

 fourth entering the eye, seventh largest; three or four lower 

 labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields; latter as long 

 as or longer than the posterior. Neck dilatable. Scales in 15 — 25 

 rows, 19 — 35 round the neck; ventrals 163- — ^207; anal entire; 

 subcaudals 42 — 75. 



Pale brown or grey to blackish; no marking on the hood 

 or a pale U- or 0-shaped marking. Lower surface brown or 

 yellowish with one or more dark transverse bands anteriorly. 

 Length of head and body 1320 mm.; tail 230 mm.; reaches 

 a length of 1900 mm. 



Nom. in dig. Ular sendoq (mal.) or ular bedul; oraj sinduk 

 or oraj babi (sund.); ular biludah (Padang Highlands); hantipeh 

 pura (Dajak-name); tedong naga (Kuching). 



Habitat: Sumatra (Atjeh!, Medan!, Labuan, Serdang!, 

 Bedagei, Asahan, Langkat, Laut Tador, Battak Mts. 800 — 1000 

 M., Indragiri, Djambi!, Tanah Lemba, Palembang, Singkarah !, 

 Silago, Ringat!, Indrapura, Padang!); Riou; Banka!; Borneo 



