52 



VENOMS 



They are characterised by a triangular head, covered with small 

 scales or small shields, and by a cylindrical or compressed body. 

 The Asiatic species have the subcaudal scales in two rows and the 

 tail short, and often prehensile, which enables them to clnnb trees 

 or bushes, where they lie in wait for their prey. 



Their classification is based upon the followmg characters : — 



A. First infralabial scale in contact with its fellow. 



I. Scales in '21—25 (rarely 27) rows ; 129—158 ventrals ; 21— 

 57 subcaudals ; 5 — 9 series of scales between the supraocular 

 shields; tail non ■prehensile. 





Fig. 32. — LacJiesis okinavcnsis. (After G. A. Boulenger, oji. cit.) 



(1) L. monticola. — Supraocular shields large, separated by 5 — 8 

 scales ; snout obtuse. 



Colour brown or yellowish above, brown or pale yellow on the 

 sides, with a brown temporal streak. Belly white, spotted with 

 brown. 



Total length, 740 millimetres; tail 115. 



Habitat : Tibet, Himalayas (2,000 to 8,000 feet), Hills of Assam, 

 Burma, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra. 



(2) L. okinavcnsis (fig. 32). — Supraocular shields large, separ- 



