i64 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Third, or third and fourth upper labials entering the 

 ej'e. Sixth upper labial largest, and in contact 

 with postoculars ; 23 scales across neck . . . . Naia flava 



Usually six upper labials. Rostral one and a half as 

 broad as deep. Third upper labial deepest, sixth 

 not in contact with postoculars ; 23 to 29 scales 

 across neck . . . . . . . . . . . . Naia nigricollis. 



1. Naia haie. Egyptian or Banded Cobra ; Koper Kapell. 



Synonyms — Coluber haie ; Cerastes candidus ; Naja haje. 



Colour — Yellowish or olive to dark brown or black above, uniform or 

 with darker or lighter spots ; lower parts yellowish, with a 

 brown or black band on the neck, or dark brown to blackish ; 

 head sometimes blackish. 

 Colouration varies as follows : — 



A. Brown above, yellowish beneath, with or without brown spots. 



B. Dark brown above, with yellowish spots ; dark brown beneath. 



C. Blackish brown above and beneath. 

 Average length — 5 feet. 



Distribution — Natal ; Zululand ; Transvaal ; Rhodesia ; Delagoa Bay ; 

 Northwards to Palestine. 



2. Naia anchiet-s. Anchieta's Cobra ; Anchiela's Kapell. 



Colour— Brown to blackish above ; end of Snout and sides of head 

 yellow ; yellow or pale brownish beneath, with or without 

 brown spots, and with a brown or black cross-band under the 

 neck. 



Average length — 5 feet ; attains a length of seven feet. 



Distribution — North West Rhodesia ; South-West Africa ; Angola. 



3. Naia flava. Cape Cobra ; Geel Kapell ; Bruin Kapell ; Spoeg Kapell 



(Spuug). 



Sjmonyms — Vipera flava ; Naja nivea ; Naja nigra. 

 Colour — Colour variable. There are five distinct varieties : — 

 (i) Uniform gamboge yellow usually with a few scales coloured 

 reddish-brown. 



(2) Reddish-brown and yellow, the former predominating. 



(3) Very dark umber approaching to black. A few scales coloured 



yellow. 



(4) Light olive brown with a tinge of dull yellow. Some are dun 



colour with a shade of olive yellow. 



(5) Shiny purplish-black. For fuller description see account of 



Cape Cobra. 

 Average length — 5 feet ; attains a length of nearly 7 feet. 

 Distribution — Whole of Cape Colony ; South-West Africa. Black 



variety does not occur in Eastern parts of Cape Colony. 



4. Naia nigricollis. Black-necked Cobra ; Zwart-nek Kapell ; " M'fesi " 



(Zulu). 



Synonym — Vipera haje. 



Colour — Colour variable, as follows : — 



A. Brown or olive above, some or all of the scales black-edged, the 



skin between the scales black ; yellowish beneath, the ventrals 

 speckled or edged with brown or blackish ; lower surface of 

 neck with black cross bars. (Mossambique variety.) 



B. Uniform brown above, yellowish beneath ; lower surface of neck 



brown in the adult ; young with a broad black ring round the 

 neck. 



