THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 65 
nostril between two or three nasal shields and the internasal. 
Body cylindrical; scales smooth or feebly keeled, in 23 rows; 
ventrals rounded. ‘Tail rather short ; subcaudal scales for the most 
part in 2 rows. 
W. egyptia.—Colour blackish-brown on the back, paler on the 
belly. 
Total length, 1,170 millimetres ; tail 170. 
Habitat : Egypt. 
Fic. 34.—SKkuLr or Dendraspis viridis (Poisonous West African Colubrine). 
(After G. A. Boulenger, op. cit.) 
(g) Dendraspis. 
(Fig. 34.) 
Maxillary bone curved upwards, bearing a pair of powerful 
poison-fangs, not fissured, and not followed by other teeth; a 
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