$6 TlMEHRI. 
picion of the risk they run ; and even when irritated, it 
is generally a difficult matter to get them to open their 
mouths. 
A fourth and rare small species, Elaps psyches^ will at 
times be met with. It may well be called the pigmy 
coral snake, since it seems never to exceed a length of 
about i^ feet. It will readily be recognised by the alter- 
nate black and reddish-brown rings, which are separated 
by narrow yellowish rings. The head, too, is black, 
and is marked on each side by a small yellow spot. 
From the rareness of its occurrence, this form may pra6li- 
cally be disregarded in the enumeration of the venomous 
species. 
It should be noted in conne6lion with these banded or 
coral snakes, that a very great deal of variation charac- 
terises the greater number of species, and though they 
have been grouped under many different names, it can 
hardly be doubted that many of them will have even- 
tually to be placed together. The four here mentioned 
are definitely well-marked forms. 
