254 SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



53 scale rows around body; scales hexagonal or quadragonal, 

 juxtaposed; ventrals scarcely differentiated; 4 preanals; tail 



greatly flattened. 



Color in alcohol— The 23 dorsal scale rows on body and head 

 are dark brown, the 30 lateral and ventral rows, yellowish; tail 

 barred above with 6 bands of brown, which reach down about 

 halfway on side of tail; below with 7 similar bands alternating; 

 rest of tail yellowish. 



Measurements of Pelamydrus platiiriis (Linva^as) . 



mm. 



Total length ^f^ 



Snout to vent 



Tail 



Greatest width of tail 



Variation. — This species is extremely variable in color. 



Boulenger * recognizes seven color varieties ; this specimen 

 belongs to his variety E {Hydrus bicolor Schneider) . The scales 

 vary from 45 to 53 around the body; they are smooth in the 

 young and in the females ; in the males the laterals and ventrals 

 are rough, with 1, 2, or 3 tubercles. 



Reviarks. —Thi& species is rare in the Philippines ; the spec- 

 imen described is one of the first records for Luzon. 



ELAPIN.^ 



Tail cylindrical ; hypapophyses more or less developed through- 

 out the vertebral column. Poison fangs well developed, stand- 

 ing erect and stationary. Deadly poisonous. 



This group contains the most dangerous snakes, notably the 

 genus Naja the species of which are generally known as cobra 

 or cobra cli cajyello. There are more than thirty genera of the 

 Elapinfe. Most of the genera are confined to Australia and New 

 Guinea, with their near-by islands. They constitute the greater 

 part of the Australian snakes. One genus is confined to North, 

 Central, and South America, and is the only genus of the family 

 in that territory. 



Three genera are known in the Philippines. 



Key to tlie PJiiUppinc gcmn-n of the Elapinir. 



ct\ Vertebiee of neck with long ribs which enable the distension of neck; 

 poison gland confined to head; scales in 1.5 to 25 rows around body; 



internasal borders nostril __ Naja Laurenti (p. 255). 



a'. No elongate ribs on cervical vertebrae; internasals not bordering nostril. 

 b\ Scales in 15 rows; poison gland confined to head. 



Hemibungarus Peters (p. 268). 



Catalogue, loc. cit. 



