162 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
hollow fangs. In some, this union of the two edges of the channel 
is well advanced, having firmly united in places. These snakes 
all possess a highly-specialized poison apparatus. 
Most species of the Elapine are viviparous. 
There are fourteen species or kinds of snakes belonging to 
the above sub-family which inhabit South Africa south of the 
Zambesi. 
SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA. 
Genus Nata.—Maxillary extending beyond the palatine, with a pair of 
large grooved poison-fangs, and one to three small faintly-grooved 
teeth near its posterior extremity ; mandibular teeth, anterior 
the longest; head not, or but slightly, distinct from the neck ; 
eye moderate or rather large, with round pupil; nostril between 
two nasals and the internasal; no loreal. Body cylindrical ; 
scales smooth without pits, disposed obliquely in 15 to 25 rows 
(or more on the neck); ventrals rounded. Tail moderate ; 
sub-caudals all or greater part in two rows. 
GENUS SEPEDON.—Maxillary extending forwards beyond the palatine, 
with a pair of large grooved poison fangs; no other maxillary 
teeth ; mandibular teeth, anterior longest. Head not distinct 
from neck ; canthus rostralis distinct ; eye moderate with round 
pupil; nostril between two nasals and the internasal ; no loreal. 
Body slightly flattened; scales oblique, keeled, without pits, 
in I9 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate; sub-caudals 
in two rows. 
Genus ASPIDELAPS.—Maxillary extending forwards beyond the palatine, 
with a pair of large, grooved poison fangs; no other maxillary 
teeth; mandibular teeth, anterior longest. Head _ slightly 
distinct from neck; eye moderate with round or vertically 
elliptic pupil; rostral shield very large, detached on the sides ; 
nostril between two or three nasals, and the internasal; no 
loreal. Body cylindrical; scales oblique, smooth or keeled, 
without pits, in 19 to 23 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail short ; 
obtuse. Sub-caudals in two rows. 
Genus ELapEcHis.—Maxillary bone extending forwards as far as the 
palatine, with a pair of large grooved poison fangs, followed by 
two to four small teeth; mandibular teeth anterior longest. 
Head not distinct from neck; eye small with round pupil ; 
nostril between two nasals; no loreal. Body cylindrical ; scales 
oblique, smooth, without pits, in 13 to15 rows. Ventrals rounded. 
Tail very short ; sub-caudals all or most in two rows. 
Genus Homoreraps.—Maxillary extending forwards beyond the palatine, 
with a pair of large poison fangs, pterygoids toothless ; mandi- 
bular teeth few, sub-equal. Head small, not distinct from neck ; 
eye very small with round pupil; nostril in a single nasal; no 
loreal. Body cylindrical; scales smooth without pits, in 15 
rows; ventrals rounded. ‘Tail short; sub-caudals in two rows. 
No postfrontal bone; prefrontals widely separated from each 
other and in contact with the parietals, excluding the frontals 
from the orbital periphery. 
