$88 VENOMS 
(1) P. porphyriacus (Black Snake; fig. 51).—Frontal shield 
longer than broad; 180—200 ventrals ; 50—60 subcaudals. 
Colour black on the back; outer row of scales red at the base ; 
ventrals red, edged with black. 
(2) P. cupreus.—199—210 ventrals ; 57—72 subcaudals. 
Colour coppery above, brown or orange below, all the scales and 
shields edged with brown. 
(8) P. australis.—199—220 ventrals ; 57—70 subcaudals ; frontal 
shield once and two-thirds to twice as long as broad. 
Colour pale brown on the back, yellowish on the belly. 
(4) P. darwiniensis.—Frontal as broad as long; 212 ventrals ; 
54—64 subcaudals. 
Colour reddish-brown ; head pale brown; belly yellowish-white. 
(5) P. papuanus.—Scales in 19—21 rows (26 or 27 on the 
neck) ; 221—2294 ventrals; 49—55 subcaudals. 
Colour uniform black ; chin white. 
(6) P. scutellatus.—Subcaudal shields in 2 rows; scales on 
the body in 23, rows (25 
30 on the neck) ; 230—233 ventrals ; 
61—78 subcaudals. 
Colour pale brown or dark brown; snout and cheeks pale brown 
or yellowish; belly yellow. 
(7) P. microlepidotus.—30—86 scales across the neck, 23 across 
the middle of the body ;. 232—2387 ventrals; 61—66 pairs of sub- 
caudals. 
Colour dark brown on the back, yellowish-grey on the belly ; 
head sometimes blackish. 
(8) P. ferox.—Snout very broadly rounded. Scales on the body 
in 23 rows; 235 ventrais; 60 pairs of subcaudals. 
Colour black above, yellowish beneath. 
(f) Denisonia. 
Maxillary bones prolonged as far as the palatines, with a pair of 
large grooved poison-fangs, followed by 3—5 small solid teeth; 
