THE I'lilSCIFAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 



31 



teeth (tig. 28). Scales smooth, obhque, in 18 — 17 rows, enlarged 

 and hexagonal in shape on the vertebral column ; ventral scales 

 round. Tail relatively short ; subcaudal scales in one or two rows. 



Two very dangerous snakes found in India and Indo-China 

 belong to this genus, B. fai^ciatus and B. ca)ididns (var. ccendetis). 

 Both are fairly common. In Ceylon B. cctjlonicHH is met with, 



Fig. 2.3. — Skull of Biuujarus. (After G. A. Bouleuger, op. cit.) 



and in South China B. cancUdus (var. multicinctas) . The length 

 of these snakes is from 1,000 — 1,500 millimetres. The back is 

 compressed in the shape of a keel. The neck is not dilatable. 



1. B. fasciatus {Banded Krait). 



Colour bright yellow, ringed with black, with a black band 

 commencing between the eyes, and broadening behind upon the 

 nape and neck (fig. 24). 



