(Rep fcfJk. _ Pla.te.,2,1)
NAIA HAJE.—Merrem.
R e p t il ia .— P l a t e s XVIII., XIX., XX., a n d XXI.
N. flava aut purjmreo-bmnnea; partitas inferioribus pallidioribus sajpemaculis transversis rubro-brunneo-
notatis; figuri subcylindracea, versus eaudam fortiter attenuate.
Longitude 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 gopell, and Spuugh-slang of the Cape colonists.
C o l o u r .— 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 ,thB-'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 specimens
the belly is mottled, from being moTe 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.
F o rm , & 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