22 



GUIDE TO REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. 



ribs. These Snakes are exceeding deadly. Well-known species are 

 the Indian Cobra {Naia iripudians, 276), the African Cobra, or 

 " Asp" (iV, hate, 277), and the Giant or King Cobra {N. hungarus, 

 274). The Ringhals ("' banded neck "), Sepedoii Immachates, is 

 another South African hooded Snake. The Kraits differ by the lack 

 of the hood ; the true Krait {Bunyarus cc&rideus) causes more 

 deaths in India than any other Snake, but the Banded Krait {B. 

 fasciatus, 273), although larger, reaching five feet in length, does 

 less mischief. The Death-Adder {Acanthophis antarctkus), easily 



lEp'jrlja.'-i' 



The Indian Cobra {Naia tripudians) ; ^ nat. size. (No. 276-) 



recognised by the spines to its tail, is one of the most deadly of 

 Australian Snakes. The South American Elaps coralUnus is con- 

 spicuous for its alternating bands of black and scarlet, separated by 

 narrow rings of yellow. 



In this group are exhibited the ordinary and the black phases of 

 the Indian Cobra {Naia tripudians, 276, fig- -0), the great Indian 

 King Cobra, or Hamadryad {N. hungarus, 274), and the African 

 Ringed Cobra {N. liaie annuUfera, 277)- Of the still more 

 venomous and deadly Indian Kraits, the yellow and black banded 

 species {Bungar us fasciatus, 273) is shown. 



