22 



GUIDE TO KEPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. 



ribs. These Snakes are exceeding deadly. Well-known species are 

 the Indian Cobra {Naia tripudians, 276), the African Cobra, or 

 "Asp" {N. haie, 277), and. the Giant or King Cobra {N. bungarus, 

 274). The Ringhals (" banded neck "), Sepedon Jmmachates, is 

 another South African hooded Snake. The Kraits differ by the lack 

 of the hood ; the true Krait {Bungarus mruleus) causes more 

 deaths in India than any other Snake, but the Banded Krait {B. 

 fasciatus, 273), although larger, reaching five feet in length, does 

 less mischief. The Death-Adder {Acanthophis antarcticus), easily 

 Fig. 20. 



The Indian Cobra (Naia tripudians) ; J nat. size. (No. 276-) 



recognised by the spines to its tail, is one of the most deadly of 

 Australian Snakes. The South American Maps corallinus is con- 

 spicuous for its alternating bands of black and scarlet, separated by 

 narrow rings of yellow. 



In this group are exhibited the ordinary and the black phases of 

 the Indian Cobra {Naia tripudians, 276, fig. 20), the great Indian 

 King Cobra, or Hamadryad {N. bungarus, 274), and the African 

 Ringed Cobra (A 7 ", haie annulifera, 277)- Of the still more 

 venomous and deadly Indian Kraits, the yellow and black banded 

 species {Bungarus fasciatus, 273) is shown. 



