NAIA HAJE. 



Young. (Plate XXI.) 



Colour intermediate between straw-yellow and pale cream-yellow, the only 

 variegations being two brownish-red collars upon the throat, the extremities 

 of each of which are visible upon the sides of the neck above ; and those of the 

 last collar are generally connected by a narrow angular bar, of the same colour 

 as the collar itself, as is shown in Figure A. Eyes light chesnut-brown. 



If this reptile be specifically different from the Naia Haje of Northern Africa, I have not, 

 after closely comparing them, been able to discover the differences which, in my opinion, could 

 justify me in regarding them as distinct. I have not been able to perceive greater discrepan- 

 cies between some of the Cape individuals and those collected in Egypt, than I have been able 

 to find between some of what may be regarded the more typical examples of Southern Africa 

 and others of the same country, which may be viewed as presenting aberrant or less common 

 characters. The young of the Cape reptile exactly corresponds with the young of Naia Haje, 

 as figured by M. Geoffroy.* 



The appearances of the more common sorts of this snake being easily to be imagined, I have 

 not thought it necessary to figure them ; but those of the varieties, being more intermixed and 

 complicated, I have represented the three principal ones, believing that all others which occur 

 in South Africa, will be but modifications of one or other of them. Of the varieties figured, the 

 one of Plate XVIII. is the most common, next to it that of Plate XIX., and the one most rarely 

 met is shown in Plate XX. The latter is known throughout the Cape colony by the name of 

 Spuugh-slang (spitting snake), and is so called from the power it is supposed to possess of 

 ejecting its poison to a distance. All the Cobra de copellos of Southern Africa distil poison 

 from the points of their fangs when they are much irritated, and are able to eject a portion of it 

 beyond the mouth by a forcible expiration ; but that any greater power than that is possessed 

 by the Spuugh-slang , I am not disposed to believe ; nevertheless the contrary is strongly main- 

 tained both by the European and native inhabitants. Both of these affirm that the snake in 

 question is able to cast its poison to a distance of several feet, especially if the wind be blowing 

 so as to favour its object ; and that it often projects it into the eyes of unwelcome intruders, 

 and thereby occasions a degree of inflammation, which not uncommonly terminates in loss of 

 sight. 



In the Cape Colony the varieties of the Cobra de Capello are all regarded as highly danger- 

 ous ; and many severe, if not fatal consequences, are the results of their bite. They are all 

 savage and bold, and when assailed, they generally resist rather than fly, and they not unfre- 

 quently even act on the offensive. They climb trees with great facility, and often take to the 

 water out of choice. In the liquid element their progress is rather slow, and during their resi- 

 dence in it the head and a portion of the neck is always kept raised a little above the surface. 

 Whenever they are excited or irritated they, like the common species of India, inflate the loose 

 skin of the neck, and extend it laterally, so as to exhibit an appearance as if the neck was 

 edged on each side with a thin semi-circular appendage. They feed upon small quadrupeds, 

 birds, and eggs, and in search of the latter, they ascend trees to rob nests. 



* Descrip. de l'Egypte Atlas, Rept. plate 7. fig. 3. 



