84 



only mentions some dots on the vertebral line, and several narrow 

 fillets on the sides. These markings, however, have now disappeared, 

 whilst the black coloration of the head and the spots on the tail 

 are still visible. 



The diagnosis of this species will be — Belly uniform, without any 

 spots ; body above olive, uniform or with narrow lateral fillets ; head 

 above, occiput, and neck black, with some yellowish spots symme- 

 trically arranged ; tail beneath chequered with black ; vertical shield 

 six-sided, rather broad and short ; six upper labial shields. 



6. Callophis maculiceps, Gthr. (PI. XVI. fig. D.) 



Elaps melanurus. Cantor, Catal. p. 106, pi. 40. f. 6 (not Shaw). 



Elaps maculiceps, Gthr. Catal. p. 232. 



Penang. 



This is the only East Indian species of Elaps with seven upper 

 labial shields ; but this anomaly is of no great importance, as it is 

 effected by the posterior upper labial, which is generally elongated 

 in these Snakes, being here divided into two. Cantor's description 

 of the colours is correct in every respect ; but the vertical shield of 

 our specimen is elongate, and far from being equilateral. 



The diagnosis of this species will be — Belly uniform, without any 

 spots ; body above light bay, on each side with a series of distant 

 black dots ; head with symmetrical black markings ; a black collar ; 

 tail beneath chequered with black ; vertical shield six-sided, elon- 

 gate, much longer than broad ; seven upper labial shields. 



7. Callophis calligaster, Wiegm. 



Elaps calligaster, Wiegm. Nov. Act. 1835, p. 253, tab. 25. f. 2. 

 Elaps collaris, Schleg. Ess. p. 448, and Abbild. taf. 46. f. 10, 11. 

 Philippine Islands. 



B. Elaps. 



Elapidce with slender and cylindrical body, with short tail and with 

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

 fang ; fifteen rows of scales, anal entire (exceptionally bifid) ; two 

 nasals, nostril placed between them ; six or seven upper labials ; one 

 anterior, two posterior oculars (in one species one) . Colours of the 

 upper and lower parts arranged in cross-bands. 



Tropical America. 



The following species are known : — 



1. Elaps corallinxjs, L. 

 Coluber corallinus, L. Mus. Ad. Frid. i. p. 33. 

 Elaps corallinus, Wied, Nov. Act. 1820, pi. 4 ; Schleg. Ess. p. 440. 

 pi. 16, f. 1-5. 



Brazil, Surinam, New Granada, Guayaquil, Trinidad (West Indies ?). 



I consider as varieties of this species — 



a. Elaps circinalis, Dum. & Bibr. p. 1210. 



b. Vipera psyche, Daud. Rept. viii. p. 320. 

 Elaps psyche, Dum. & Bibr. p. 1212. 



