f. Rfeptilia.__Plate 34 .
NAJA H.EMACHATES.—A u c t .
R e p t il ia . P l a t e XXXIV.
N. supra nigro-brunnea, fasciis rufo-flavis, irregularibus, variegatis; infra livido-nigra, antice fasciis
duabus tribusve transversis, notatis; squamis fortiter carinatis.
Longitudo e naso ad caudse apicem, inter 2 et 3 pedes.
V i p e r a H jem a c h a t e s , Dated. Seba. Latreil.
S e p e d o n H jem a c h a t e s, Merr. Wagler.
N a ja C a p e n s is , Smith.
R in g h a l s S l a n g of the Cape Colonists.
C o l o u r .—The ground colour of the upper and lateral parts either blueish
brown or greyish brown, and variegated with a great number of narrow, jagged,
or serrated and waved transverse bands, varying in tint from ochre yellow
to light yellowish white. The space between the rami of the lower jaw, together
with the throat, livid black or dull brownish red ; the remainder of the under
parts livid greyish black, crossed anteriorly with two or three broad transverse
bars of a yellow or n/sty white colour, and laterally variegated with irregular
white spots. On the body the dark colour predominates greatly, but on the
tail the two tints are almost in equal proportions, and disposed nearly in
complete rings. Eyes dark brown.
Variety.IpGround colour dull blackish brown, crossed with numerous,
narrow, deep blueish brown bars, only distinctly visible when the surface of
the skin is cleared of impurities either with a moist cloth or a wet sponge.
Until such cleansing shall have been practised the snake appears of an
uniform dull blackish brown tint.
F o rm .— Figure rather robust. Head scarcely broader than the neck, above
flat, anteriorly rather narrow, and the upper lips protrude beyond the edge of
the upper surface of the head, hence the eyes appear rather sunk, giving
a malignant and savage expression. Nostrils large, and open backwards and
outwards; no frenal scale ; rostral^plate triangular, its upper angle entering
deeply between the anterior frontal plates ; postocular scales three, anteocular
scale one ; temporal plates large and irregularly shaped. Neck depressed