430 



SHORT-HEADED SNAKE. 



Coluber Brcviceps. C. capite brei'i, corpore vario. 



Snake with short head and variegated body. 



Cobra, s. Vipera de Neustria, coronata, Ceilonica : foemina. 



Scb. 2. t. 46. f. 2. 

 Serpens Porphyrius Brasiliensis. Seb. 1. t. 85. /. 1. 



THIS, from the description and figures of Seba, 

 appears to be a highly elegant species, but seems 

 to vary considerably in its colours ; one specimen 

 being of a blueish grey, with large patches of 

 rufous brown, accompanied by smaller spots of 

 similar colour ; while the abdomen is of a pale 

 ferruginous cast, without any spots or variega- 

 tions. The other specimen (for both appear evi- 

 dently to belong to the same species, though de- 

 scribed as different ones by the author) is pale yel- 

 low, with large patches and variegations of black, 

 beautifully intermixed with red and white specks, 

 the abdomen being marked by numerous transverse 

 bars of red and white, the scuta appearing edged 

 with black : the head is large, short, obtuse, slightly 

 cordate, covered with moderately large scales, and 

 elegantly variegated with small spots and marks 

 of red, black, &c. ; the neck and body are thick; 

 the tail short, and tapering to the tip : the whole 

 animal has an appearance, in some degree, resem- 

 bling that of a Viper, though very different in its 

 colours, aud thicker in proportion to its length, 

 which is about two feet; the first described .spe- 

 cimen is, according to Seba, a native of Ceylon, 

 the other of I3nisil. 



