beily they are arranged in cross-bars, sometimes reaching on to the 

 sides, and interfering with the bands on the back. But this latter 

 character of the coloration not being constant, as E. calligaster 

 shows a tendency to vary in coloration, I consider the difference in 

 the number of the scales as more important ; and the presence of 

 thirteen rows of scales is, 1 believe, sufficient to determine any species 

 as being East Indian. 



All the species of Elaps from other tropical parts have fifteen 

 rows ; and the American and Australian species agree in another 

 point, that the ornamental colours of the upper and lower parts are not 

 separated into two systems of different direction, but are united, 

 forming rings round the whole body with regular interspaces. But 

 the nasal shield in the American species is constantly separated into 

 two with the nostril between them, the same shield being single in the 

 Australian species, and pierced by that opening. Lastly, the African 

 species deviates in more than one respect. With the same number 

 of scales, and with the same single nasal as in the Australian, it 

 exhibits only one posterior ocular shield, the head being generally 

 more depressed. The ornamental colours, being in all other species 

 of Elaps arranged with a certain regularity, are here so irregularly 

 and so variably disposed, that distinct cross-bands seldom appear on 

 the belly and sides ; the pure ground-colour often predominates 

 along the medial line of the back. 



Thus I divide the genus Elaps of Wagler into the following genera, 

 which correspond with the natural divisions of the earth's surface. 



A. "With thirteen rows of scales. 



1. Callophis, East Indies. 



B. With fifteen rows of scales and — 



a, with a double nasal shield : 



2. Elaps. Tropical America. 



b, with a single nasal shield and — 



a, with two posterior oculars : 



3. Vermicella. Australia. 

 jS, with one posterior ocular : 



4. Poecilophis, Africa. 



A. Callophis. 



ElapideB with very slender and cylindrical body, with short tail, and 

 with depressed head, not distinct from neck. No other tooth behind 

 the fang. Thirteen rows of scales. Anal entire. Two nasals, nostrils 

 placed between them ; six (exceptionally seven) upper labials ; one 

 anterior, two posterior oculars. Colours of the upper parts arranged 

 in longitudinal streaks. — East Indian region. 



The following species are known : — 



1. Callophis BiviRGATUs (Schleg.). 



Elaps bivirgatus, Schleg. Ess. p. 451, pi. 16. f.lO, 11 ; and Abb. 

 taf. 47. 



Elaps flaviceps, Cant. (Spicil.) Catal. p. 109. 



Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Malayan peninsula, Pinang. 

 No. 389. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



