other American species of Flaps it differs in having only one poste- 

 rior ocular, the eye being very small. The vertical shield is five- 

 sided, vpith the lateral and posterior sides equal, but with the anterior 

 rather longer ; the hinder angle is acute. The nasal appears to be 

 divided into tvfo below^ the nostril only; the nostril itself is round, 

 open ; seven upper labial shields, the sixth of which is separated 

 from the occipital by an intermediate temporal shield. Scales in 

 fifteen rows. Anal shield bifid. A strong fang in front of the upper 

 jaw, and no smaller tooth behind. 



It is easy to be seen which parts have been red-coloured during life, 

 and which yellow, slight tinctures of both colours being preserved. 

 The front part of the muzzle and the chin are black ; a narrow yel- 

 low band crosses the posterior frontals ; the following black band 

 reaches to the front part of the occipitals ; the remainder of the head 

 is red. The body and tail are encircled by twenty-two zones, each 

 of which is composed of three black rings and two yellow ones 

 between. The anterior black ring of the first zone forms a collar ; 

 two of the zones encircle the tail, the tip of which is black. The 

 black rings are nearly as broad on the belly as on the back ; the 

 middle one occupies five rows of scales, the outer ones four, the yel- 

 low rings mostly two. The red interspaces are as broad as the outer 

 black ones ; the scales in these interspaces are uniform, without aiiy 

 spot. The specimen is 1 7" long ; of which the head takes 3^'", and 

 the tail 15'". It is in the collection of the British Museum, and has 

 been procured in Para. 



Doubtful American species of Elajjs are — 



12. Elaps gastrodelus, Dum. & Bibr, p. 1212. 



13. Elaps diastema, Dum. & Bibr. p. 1222. 

 Mexico. 



14. Elaps zonatus. Hallow. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1855, 

 iii. p. 35. 



Honduras. 



15. Elaps divaricatus. Hallow. L c. p. 36. 

 Honduras. 



C. Vermicella, Gray. 



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

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

 behind the fang ; fifteen rows of scales ; anal bifid ; one nasal, 

 pierced by the nostril ; six upper labials ; one anterior, two posterior 

 oculars. Ornamental colours in cross-bands. 



Australia. 



Only one species is known : — 



1. Vermicella occipitalis. (PI. XVII. fig. B.) 



Elaps occijntalisy Dum. Bibr. vii. p. 1220. 



Vermicella annulata (Gray), Gthr. Catal. Col. Sn, p. 23(5. 



