232. NAiA. 381 



upper portion measuring one fourth to one half its distance from, 

 the frontal ; internasals as long as or shorter than the praefrontals, 

 in contact with the prseocular ; frontal as long as broad or longer 

 than broad, as broad as or little broader than the supraocular, as 

 long as or a little longer than its distance from the rostral ; one 

 prseocular; three (rarely two) postoculars ; temporals 2+3 or 

 3+3 ; seven upper labials, third deepest, seventh largest, third and 

 fourth entering the eye ; four lower labials in contact with the 

 anterior chin-shields, which are as long as or longer than tho 

 posterior. Neck dilatable. 21-35 scales round the neck, 17-25 

 round the middle of the body. Ventrals 163-205 ; anal entire ; 

 subcaudals 42-75. Coloration very variable. 



Total length 1550 millim. ; tail 230. — A skin from Mysore 

 measures 1900 millim. 



Southern Asia, from Transcaspia to China and the Malay 

 Archipelago. 



This species, as here understood, varies very considerably, and 

 the forms enumerated hereafter might be regarded as distinct 

 species but for the absence of any sharp demarcation-lines between 

 them. The author has taken a conservative view in this case 

 and provisionally maintained intact the association which has so 

 long been known under the name of Naja tripudians. It is never- 

 theless advisable to recognize some of the forms as subspecies. 



A. Forma ttpica. (C naja, L. ; N. lutescens, fasciata, brasiliensis, 

 siamensis, Laur. ; C. rufus, Gmel.). — Yellowish to dark brown 

 above, with black-and-white spectacle-mark on the hood and 

 a black-and-white spot on each side of the lower surface of the 

 hood. 25-35 scales across the neck, 23-25 across the middle 

 of the body. 

 a. One or two dark brown cross-bands on the belly behind the 

 hood. 



