NAJA ELEMACHATES. 
as broad as the head, arid edged with a quantity of loose skin, which forms a 
fold on each side when the reptile is quiet and free from excitement, but 
when the case is otherwise, the fold is extended laterally, so as to form a 
broad fringe on each side, which constitutes what in snakes of this genus is 
denominated the hood. Body subcylindrical or sub triangular, and covered 
with a skin only loosely attached to the parts within it ; the scales covering 
the skin are ovate, and all, excepting those of the two rows on each side 
nearest to the abdominal plates, strongly carinated. Tail short, subcylin- 
drical, and pointed, the skin closely connected to the internal parts, and 
the scales towards its commencement slightly carinated, the rest smooth. 
Abdomen broad. The scales of the body are disposed in oblique transverse 
rows, nineteen in each. Length of specimen figured thirty-one inches, of 
which the tail measures four and a half inches. Abdominal plates, 129; 
subcaudal scales, 33. These were the numbers of the specimen figured ; the 
following are those counted on others : 150 — 30 ; 143 — 43. 
The range of this species is very considerable, and specimens of it have been found in almost 
every district of South Africa which has yet been explored. It appears to prefer localities in 
which the soil is loose, sandy, and coated with brush-wood : hence individuals are to be very 
readily procured on the sandy flats near to Cape Town and the coasts of the colony. It is one 
of the most vigilant of snakes, and its resting place can very rarely be approached before it is 
all activity, either commencing to fly, preparing to maintain its ground, or make an attack. 
When it flies it almost invariably seeks some subterranean retreat, which is in general discover- 
able without difficulty, from its being usually a resident of situations where the burrows of 
mice, moles, or other small quadrupeds exist in abundance. The aborigines, as well as the 
colonists, reckon this to be the most courageous of all the South African snakes, and they highly 
dread the power of its poison. When in confinement, and irritated, it evinces great ferocity, 
it opens its mouth so as to be in readiness to seize on any object that may approach within its 
reach, and while open the poisonous fluid is to be seen distilling in drops from the fangs, which 
are on such occasions always raised to the proper position for performing their functions. 
During such periods of excitement it often ejects, by some means, a portion of the fluid to a 
distance from its mouth ; and the inhabitants even affirm that it is able to cast it more than 
several feet, and that in doing so it generally attempts to lodge it in the eyes of men or 
animals. Elsewhere I shall take occasion to remark more at length upon this reputed power. 
