NAJA ELAPS CUPROCEPHALUS. 61 
Fifth Variety—E. CAL. NIGRESCENS. 
E. Call. nigrescens, Giinther. 
ee cconcinnus, Beddome. 
Malabariens, Jerdon, Bedd. 
Vertical shields elongate; upper labials 7; temporals 1 + 1, the anterior 
of double size; abdominal scuta 232-247; subcaudal squamz 33-42. Anal 
entire generally, but found bifid in one specimen. Length 4’, tail 5/”. 
Upper parts darkish ash or black; the lower part red, of a uniform 
shade; upper part of head symmetrically marbled with black; a black 
spot below the eye; another from the occipital to the angle of the mouth ; 
a black horseshoe-like collar with its convexity forwards; a narrow 
black vertebral line slightly edged with yellow, runs from the collar to 
the tip of the tail; u series of small ovate black spots, indistinctly edged 
with whitish color, along each side of the trunk, disappearing towards 
anus; tail colored like body, without black rings. 
Sixth Variety—E. CALL. cerasinus. From Malabar ; de- 
scribed by Major Beddome as follows: 
Length 2137’, tail 2’”; abdominal scuta 228, subcaudal squame 13; 
rostral shield slightly produced back between the frontals ; the latter touch 
the orbit; loreal and anteocular wanting; nostrils between two nasals; 
seven upper labials; 3d, 4th, and 5th very high ; 3d and 4th enter the orbit; 
one small post-ocular vertical, hexagonal, elongated, pointed behind; 
supraciliary small; occipitals large, elongated, pointed behind, with a 
pair of large temporals on each side and entire; back purplish-brown 
with a pearl-like Instre, with forty transverse, broad, irregular-shaped 
black bands extending to the tail, equal distances upart, and though 
reaching down to the belly on the sides do not quite meet; the two lower 
rows of scales and belly of a bright cherry red; head black in front; 
neck, with the 5th, 6th, and 7th labials, and a portion of the occipitals, 
cherry red. 
A North American variety of this genus is the Naja Elaps 
Cuprocephalus (nobis); Spanish, Cabeza de Cobre, Copper- 
head. 
Agkistrodon Contortrix, B. & G.—This species is not known 
to have been found except in the Middle and Southwestern 
