232. NAIA. 381 
upper portion measuring one fourth to one half its distance from 
the frontal ; internasals as long as or shorter than the prefrontals, 
in contact with the preocular; frontal as long as broad or longer 
than broad, as broad as or little broader than the supraocular, as 
long as or a little longer than its distance from the rostral; one 
preocular; three (rarely two) postoculars; temporals 2+3 or 
3+3,5 seven upper labials, third deepest, seventh largest, third and 
fourth entering the eye; four lower labials in contact with the 
anterior chin-shields, which are as long as or longer than tho 
posterior. Neck dilatable. 21-35 scales round the neck, 17-25 
round the middle of the body. Ventrals 163-205; anal entire ; 
subcaudals 42-75. Coloration very variable. 
Total length 1550 millim.; tail 230.—A skin from Mysore 
measures 1900 millim. 
Southern Asia, from Transcaspia to China and the Malay 
Archipelago. 
This species, as here understood, varies very considerably, and 
the forms enumerated hereafter might be regarded as distinct 
species but for the absence of any sharp demarcation-lines between 
them. The author has taken a conservative view in this case 
and provisionally maintained intact the association which has so 
long been known under the name of Naja tripudians. It is never- 
theless advisable to recognize some of the forms as subspecies. 
A.’ Forma typica (C. naja, L.; NV. lutescens, fasciata, brasiliensis, 
siamensis, Laur.; C. rufus, Gmel.).—Yellowish to dark brown - 
above, with black-and-white spectacle-mark on the hood and 
a black-and-white spot on each side of the lower surface of the 
hood. 25-35 scales across the neck, 23-25 across the middle 
of the body. 
a, One or two dark brown cross-bands on the belly behind the 
hood. 
a-d, 9 (Se. st; V.181; Deccan. Colonel Sykes [P.]. 
C. 55), hgr. (Se. a3 
V. 183; C. 57), & yg. 
(Sc. 4, =; V.177,170; 
23? 23 
C. 57, 56). 
e. Yg. (Se. sai V. 182; Anamallays. Colonel Beddome [C.]. 
C. 58). 
f. 2 (Sc. 5; V. 193; Madras. T. C. Jerdon, Esq. [P ], 
C. 64). | 
g. Yg. (Se.gg3 V. 170 Madras, J. E. Boileau, Esq. [P.]. 
C. 60). 
h, Ad., skin (Se. = Mysore. Sir J. Fayrer [P.]. 
190; C. 56). 
