SNAKES. 209 



B. Venomous Snakes with grooved fangs in front (p. 1). 



Fam. XIII. ELAPSIDiE. 



Head generally quadrangular, with flat crown and moderate 

 or short muzzle. Loreal none ; generally one, sometimes two, 

 anterior, two or three (exceptionally four) posterior oculars. 

 Scales smooth, rather round or ovoid, sometimes those of the 

 vertebral line larger, subcaudals entire or two-rowed. Grooved 

 fangs immoveable, sometimes without other smaller smooth ones 

 behind. 



Serpens venimeux colubriformes, Schlegel, Ess. ii. p. 431. 

 Conocerques, Dum. $f Bibr. vii. p. 1187. 



Synojjsis of the Genera. 



1. Glyphodon. A series of smaller teeth behind the fang. 



Posterior frontal in contact with two labial shields. Au- 

 stralia. 



2. Demansia. A series of smaller teeth behind the fang. 



Rostral shield moderate ; loreal replaced by four shields ; 

 subcaudals two-rowed. Australia. 



3. Hoplocephalus. Scales of back equal ; subcaudals one- 



rowed. Australia. 



4. Pseudechis. One or two smooth teeth behind the fang; 



neck not distensible ; anal bifid ; subcaudals anteriorly 

 entire, posteriorly bifid. New Holland. 



5. Hamadryas. One or two smooth teeth behind the fano- ; 



neck not distensible ; three pairs of very large shields 

 round the occipital shields. East Indian Islands. 



6. Bungarus. Scales of the vertebral line hexagonal ; sub- 



caudals entire. East Indies. 



7. Pseudohaje. One or two smooth teeth behind the fang. 



Scales of the vertebral line hexagonal ; subcaudals bifid. 



8. Naja. One or two smooth teeth behind the fang; neck 



distensible ; scales of the back equal ; rostral shield mo- 

 derate. East Indies ; Africa. 



9. Cyrtophis. No other tooth behind the fang; rostral 



very large, covering the whole front of snout. S. Africa. 

 10. Pseudonaja. A series of smooth teeth behind the fang; 

 neck not distensible; rostral large, far produced back- 

 wards ; loreal replaced by four shields ; one anterior, two 

 posterior oculars. New Holland. 



