THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 33 
after the Cobra, the variety cæruleus causes most deaths among 
human beings. It is found in jungles and rice-fields, and commonly 
secretes itself in old trees and old walls. It frequently penetrates 
into houses, verandahs, bathrooms, and even beds. Sir Joseph 
Fayrer relates the story of a lady, who, when travelling in 
a palanquin, found on arriving at her destination a “ Krait ” coiled 
up in her luggage, the snake having thus made the journey with 
her throughout a whole night. 
The Krait may easily be confused with Lycodon aulicus, 
a harmless snake which closely resembles it, though it can at 
once be distinguished by examining its mouth. 
(b) Naja. 
(Fig. 25.) 
Head scarcely distinct from the neck ; eyes with round pupils ; 
nostril between two nasal shields and an internasal. A pair of solid 
grooved poison-fangs. Body elongate, cylindrical, terminated by 
a conical and pointed tail. Scales smooth, disposed obliquely, in 
15—25 rows. Ventral scales round. 
N. tripudians (Cobra-di-Capello). (Fig. 26.) 
Head small, covered with large shields, a frontal as long as 
broad, a supraocular, a præocular, 3 postoculars, 2 + 3 or 3 + 3 
temporals, 7 upper labials, 4 lower labials. Neck dilatable by the 
separation of the first cervical ribs; 21—35 scales round the neck, 
17—25 round the middle of the body: 163—205 ventrals ; 42—75 
subcaudals. 
Total length, 1,500—1,900 millimetres; tail 230. 
Coloration very variable, usually cinereous grey or almost black 
with a bluish sheen; belly lighter, sometimes tinted with red. The 
head is frequently tinged with golden-yellow ; it is spotted with 
yellowish-white above, and is pure white underneath. 
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