232. NAiA. 373 



Naja, part., Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 461 (1837). 

 Trimeresurus, part., I}um. Sr Bibr. t. c. p. 1244 ; Jan, I. c. p. 118. 

 Pseudoliaje, Giinth. Cat. p. 222. 

 OpMophagus, Oiinth. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 340. 



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 moderate 

 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 greater part in 

 two rows. 



Africa and Southern Asia. 



Synopsis of the Species. 

 I. Scales in 19-35 rows on the neck, which is more or less dilatable. 

 A. 17-25 scales across the middle of the body. 



1. Sixth or seventh upper labial largest and deepest, in contact 



with postoculars. 



Eye separated from the labials by sub- 

 oculars ; rostral as deep as broad or 

 slightly broader than deep 1. haie, p. 374. 



Third and fourth labials entering the eye ; 



rostral as deep as broad 2. flava, p. 376. 



Third and fourth labials entering the eye ; 



rostral considerably broader than deep . 3. melanoletica, p. 376. 



2. Third upper labial deepest, sixth and seventh not in contact 



with postoculars. 



Eostral once and a half as broad as deep ; 



usually 'six upper labials ; posterior 



chin-shields much narrower than the 



anterior and widely separated from each 



jj^jjgj .' 4. nigrieollis, p. 378. 



Eostral once and one fourth to once and a 



half as broad as deep; seven upper 



labials ; posterior chin-shields as broad 



as the anterior and in contact with each 



other or narrowly separated in front . . 5. tripudians, p. 380. 

 Eostral once and two thirds as broad as 



deep ; usually seven upper labials ; 



posterior chin-shielda as broad as the 



anterior and in contact with each other 



• front ^' samarensis, p. 385. 



