THE PBINCIFAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 37 



parietals ; 1 prseocular and 3 postoculars ; 2 + 2 or 2 + 3 tem- 

 porals ; 7 supralabials, 4 infralabials ; 21 — 23 scales across the neck, 

 17—19 across the middle of the body; 169—175 ventrals ; 45—50 

 subcaudals. 



■ Coloration black or sometimes yellowish above; pale brown or 

 yellowish on the belly ; neck black. 



Total length, 1,000 millimetres ; tail 160. 



Ifa&itoi.- Philippine Islands. 



Naja bungarus {Ophiophagus or Uamadryas elaps). 

 (King Cobra or Hamadryad.) 



A pair of large occipital shields ; 1 prseocular ; 3 postoculars ; 

 2 + 2 temporals; 7 supralabials, 4 infralabials ; 19 — 21 scales across 

 the neck, 15 across the middle of the body ; 215 — '262 ventral scEsl'es, 

 80 — 117 subcaudals. Neck dilatable. 



Coloration very variable, yellowish, brown, olive, or black, with 

 or without dark transverse bands. 



Total length, 3,900 millimetres ; tail 630. 



Habitat : India, Burma, Indo-China, Siam, Southern China, 

 Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. 



The species of Naja are oviparous, and usually lay some twenty 

 eggs, elliptical in shape and as large as those of a pigeon, with a 

 soft shell. 



These snakes do not fear the proximity of man, and feed upon 

 rats, mice, and birds ; they seek their prey chiefly in the evening, 

 after sunset. 



They swim extremely well, and frequent the neighbourhood of 

 water-courses. 



Indian legends relate that Brahma, having descended on earth 

 and fallen asleep one day at high noon, a Naja placed itself in 

 front of him and, dilating its broad neck, procured for him kindly 

 shade. In order to repay it for the service rendered, Brahma gave 



