NAJA 255 



6'. Scales in 13 rows; poison gland very elongate, entering far into 

 body cavity _ _.. Doliophls Girard (p. 273). 



Genus NAJA Laurenti 



Naja Laurenti, Syn. Rept. (1768) 90; Merrem, Tent. Syst. Ampli. 

 (1820) 147; Dumeril and Bibron, Erp. Gen. 7 (18.54) 1275; GuN- 

 THER, Cat. Col. Snakes (18.58) 220; Rept. Brit. India (1864) 338; 

 Jan, Elenco Sist. Ofid. (1863) 119; Boettger, Ber. Senck Nat. Ges. 

 (1886) 116; Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Filipinas 1 (1895) 439; 

 Stejneger, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 58 (1907) 394. 

 Naja, part., Schlegel, Phys. Serp. 2 (1837) 461; BoiE, Isis (1827) 



537. 

 Dendraspis Fitzinger, Syst. Rept. (1843) 28. 

 Urmus Wagler, Syst. Amph. (1830) 173. 

 Aspis Wagler, Syst. Amph. (1830) 173 (non Laurenti). 

 Tomyris EiCHVifALD, Zool. Spec. 3 (1831) 171. 

 Hamadryas (non Hubner) Cantor, Asiat. Res. 19 (1836) 87; GtiN- 



thbr, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 218. 

 Trivieresnriis, part., DuMERiL and BiBRON, Erp. Gen. 7 (1854) 1244. 

 Pseiidohaje GtJNTHER, Cat. Col. Snakes (1858) 222. 

 0-phiophagns GtJNTHER, Rept. Brit. India (1864) 340; Boettger, Ber. 

 Senck. Nat. Ges. (1886) 116; Casto de Elera, Cat. Fauna Fili- 

 pinas 1 (1895) 439. 

 Naia Boulenger, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. (1890) 390; Cat. Snakes 

 Brit. Mus. 3 (1896) 372. 

 "Maxillary extending beyond the palatine, with a pair of large 

 grooved poison-fangs, and one to three small, faintly grooved 

 teeth near its posterior extremity ; mandibular teeth, anterior 

 longest. Head not or but slightly distinct from neck ; eye moder- 

 ate or rather large, with round pupil ; nostril between two nasals 

 and the internasal; no loreal. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, 

 without pits, disposed obliquely, in 15-25 rows (or more on the 

 neck) ; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate ; subcaudals all or great- 

 er part in two rows." {Boulenger.) 



The genus Naja is distributed from Africa, over southern Asia 

 and the Malay Archipelago. One species extends into Celebes. 

 The larger part of the species is African. Two well-known and 

 widely distributed species enter the Philippines. 



Key to the Philippine species of Naja Laurenti. 

 a'. Scales in 19 to 21 rows on neck, 15 rows on body; 4 meters in length 



N. hannah (Cantor) (p. 256). 



a'. Scales in 21 to 35 rows on neck, 17 to 25 rows on body; 2 meters in 



length or less N. naja Linnseus (p. 259). 



The second species is represented in the Philippines by three 

 well-defined subspecies which, as Boulenger * states, "might be 

 regarded as distinct species but for the absence of any sharp 

 demarcation-lines between them." 



* Catalogue, 381. 



