166 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
2. ASPIDELAPS scuTATUS. Shield Snake. Schild Slang. 
Synonyms—Cyrtopsis scutatus ; Naia fula-fula. 
Colour—Pale greyish-brown above, with transverse dark spots or cross 
bands; head and about two inches of the neck black; chin 
and throat white, separated by black irregular blotches ; under- 
parts whitish. 
Average length—1 foot 6 inches to 2 feet. 
Distribution—Natal; Orange Free State; Transvaal; Delagoa Bay ; 
Southern Rhodesia ; Portuguese East Africa. 
Genus ELAPECHIS. 
Three Species in South Africa. 
KEY lO) CHES SPECIES: 
Portion of rostral visible from above, not half 
as long as its distance from the frontal, 
which shield is a little shorter than the 
parietals; diameter of eye less than its 
distance from the nostril in the adult. Scales 
in 13 rows. Snout broadly rounded .. Elapechis guenthert. 
Fic. 70.—Head and neck of the Coral Snake (Aspidelaps lubricus). 
Colour, coral-red or ornage-red, banded with black. A rather 
large shield curving back from the nose. 
Scales in 13 rows. Portion of rostral visible 
from above, at least half as long as its dis- 
tance from the frontal, which shield is much 
shorter than the parietals; diameter of eye 
less than its distance from the nostril in the 
cValiuillin <a ae Ba a: a .. Elapechis sundevallit. 
Snout obtusely pointed. Portion of rostral 
visible from above, at least half as long as 
its distance from the frontal, which shield 
is much shorter than the parietals ; diameter 
of eye equal to its distance from the nostril Elapechis decostert. 
