86 



the lateral ones, and the shield terminating in an acute angle. In 

 general habit the species is scarcely more slender than E. lemniscatus. 

 I count in one of the specimens 196, and in the other 202 ventral 

 plates ; in both 1 9 subcaudals. The shields of the head and the 

 scales do not offer any. other peculiarity, except that the sixth upper 

 labial is in direct contact with the occipital, whilst in E. lemniscatus 

 an elongate temporal shield separates that labial from the occipital. 

 There are two nasals ; one anterior, two posterior oculars ; and seven 

 upper labials ; fifteen rows of scales ; the anal plate in the older 

 specimen entire, and in the younger one bifid. The muzzle in front, 

 the vertical, superciliaries, and the third, fourth, and fifth upper 

 labials are black ; the remainder of the head is red. The neck is 

 surrounded by a broad black collar, in front yellow- edged, and be- 

 hind separated from a much narrower black ring by a yellow edge 

 also. Then follow, in regular interspaces, fifteen zones (in the younger 

 individual), or sixteen (in the older one). Each zone is composed 

 of three black rings, with two yellow ones between. One of the 

 zones surrounds the tail. The middle black ring is always broadest ; 

 but in the adult individual it occupies three rows of scales only, in 

 the young one four ; the outer black rings are as broad as the yellow 

 ones, and occupy each two, sometimes only one row of scales. The 

 red interspaces are nearly of the same extent as the zones ; and each 

 scale exhibits a black tip. The extremity of the tail is very blunt, 

 rounded, and black. The total length of the large specimen is 19", 

 the head taking 4^'", the tail 14'". 



The above description is founded upon two specimens, one of 

 which has been for a long while in the collection of the British Mu- 

 seum ; but being only a young individual, and not in a good state of 

 preservation, it has not been introduced into the Catalogue. In the 

 meanwhile Professor Jan has recognized it as belonging to a species 

 for which he has intended the name given above ; and finding the same 

 name mentioned in his ' Index of Reptiles of the Milan Museum/ I 

 have accepted it. I am not aware that the species has been described. 

 The other specimen has been purchased for the British Museum, 

 and is said to come from Brazil. The specimen in the Milan Mu- 

 seum is from Mexico. 



10. Elaps tener, Baird & Gir. 



Elaps teiier, Baird and Girard, Catal. N. Amer. Kept. p. 22. 

 Texas. 



11. Elaps filiformis, n. sp. (PI. XVIII. fig. B.) 



Exceedingly slender. Only one posterior ocular shield. Body 

 surrounded by black rings, always three together ; muzzle, and a 

 cross-band between the eyes, black. 



This species is as slender as any of the East Indian Elapidce ; in 

 the number of the ventral plates it even surpasses them. I count 

 285 ventral, and 38 subcaudal plates. Compared with a specimen of 

 E. lemniscatus, Avhich has a head of the same size, it is twice as long. 

 The tail is rather short, but tapering to a fine tip. From all the 



