NAIA HAJE. — Merrem. 
Reptilia. — Plates XVIII., XIX., XX., and XXI. 
N. flava aut purpureo-brunnea; partibus inferioribus pallidioribus ssope maculis transversis rubro-brunneo- 
notatis ; figuret subeylindracea, versus eaudam fortiter attenuata. 
Longitudo inter 5 et 6 pedes. 
Echidna flava, Merr. Tentam. System. Amph, p. 154. 
Naia nigra, Smith. Magazine of Natural History, vol. ii. 1838. 
Geel copell, Bruin copell, and Spuugh -slang of the Cape colonists. 
Colour. — The majority of the specimens of this species, which are found 
in South Africa, are either entirely yellow or purplish brown, though a 
considerable number occur, also, in which both these colours exist more or 
less distinctly in the same individual. The depth of the general colour 
varies considerably in different specimens, particularly in those exhibiting 
the yellow colour, being observed of every shade between straw-yellow and 
clear reddish yellow. In specimens which are partly of a yellow and partly 
of a purplish brown colour ; the latter tint is generally found upon the head, 
neck, and upper parts of the tail. In all the three kinds, the upper parts 
are always of a deeper tint than the lower parts, and in the majority of speci- 
mens the belly is mottled, from being more or less crossed by irregular 
blotches, or incomplete bars of a reddish brown colour. The abdominal 
plates, and the subcaudal scales have a slight pearly lustre, and in some 
they approach almost to a pearly white. 
Form, &c.— Figure nearly cylindrical, with the belly a little flattened ; the 
greatest thickness of the body is rather nearer to the head than the tip of the 
tail, and from the thickest part it tapers towards both extremities, the 
decrease in thickness occurring more rapidly, and to a much greater degree, 
towards the latter than the former ; so that the tail towards the tip is scarcely 
so thick as a common writing quill. The head is considerably wider than the 
neck, the greater width arising principally from the lateral bulge which exists 
on each side of the hindhead, and which gives to this snake its peculiarly 
hideous and savage appearance. The width of the head is much greater than 
its depth : its upper surface is flat, and the occipital scales appear very large 
