14 THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



//) BTJNGAIITJS FLAVIOEPS-Tlie Tellow-headea Krait. 



Identification. — It is the only one of the genus with the scales 

 arranged in 13 rows. 



Supplementary characters. — The vertebral scales are as broad as long. 

 or even broader in the middle of the body. The subcaudals are entire 

 at the base, and divided towards the tip of the tail (see fig. 9 C). 



Distribution. — This rare snake belongs to the Malayan fauna, but 

 extends through the Malay Peninsula as far north as Tenasserim, 

 where it encroaches upon our Burmese Province. 



Poison. — Nothing seems to be known about the effects of its poison. 



Dimensions.— Grows to 6 feet and over. 



Colour. — I quote from Boulenger *: — " Black above, with or with- 

 out a yellow vertebral line, two outer rows of scales black and yellow ; 

 head red or yellow : tail and sometimes posterior part of body orange 

 red." 



1^) 



BTTNGAIins BUNGAEOIDES-Tbe ITorthern Sill Zrait. 



Tdeniiiieation. — It is the only krait with scales in 15 rows that has 

 any shields beneath the tail divided. In all the others these shields 

 are entire throughout {see fig. 9). 



Supplementary characters. — The vertebral scales are as broad as long 

 or rather broader in the posterior part of the body. 



Distribution. — This is a very rare species, and a very local one. 

 Hitherto it has only been recorded from the Himalayas in the vicinity 

 of Darjeeling, the Khasi Hills in Assam and N. Cachar. 



Poison. — Nothing known. 



Dimensions. — (rrows to 3 feet. 



Colour, — Black with white linear chevrons or crossbars. 



♦ Oat. Snakes., Brit. Mue., Vol. Ill, p. 371 , 



