THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 95 
Habitat: Faro and Howla Islands, Bougainville Straits, 
Solomon Islands. 
(21) D. woodfordii.—Scales in 17 rows; 166—172 ventrals; 
41—45 subcaudal pairs. 
Colour brownish-white, with a reticulate pattern; head dark 
brown ; belly white. 
Total length, 670 millimetres ; tail 100. 
Habitat: New Georgia, Solomon Islands. 
(g) Micropechis. 
Maxillary bones extending forward as far as the palatines, with 
a pair of large grooved poison-fanes, followed by three small solid 
teeth ; mandibular teeth longer in front. Head distinct from the 
neck; eyes very small, with round pupils; nostril between two 
nasal shields. Body cylindrical ; scales smooth, in 15 or 17 rows. 
Tail short; subcaudals in 2 rows. 
(1) M. ikaheka.—Scales in 15 rows; 180—223 ventrals ; 39— 
55 subcaudals. 
Colour yellow and black, in irregular cross-bars; head and tail 
black above ; belly yellow. 
Total leneth, 1,550 miilimetres ; tail 180. 
Habitat : New Guinea. 
(2) M. elapoides.—Scales in 17 rows; 208 ventrals; 35 sub- 
caudals. 
Colour cream, with 22 black bands, broader than the inter- 
spaces between them; snout and ocular region black. 
Total length, 750 millimetres; tail 75. 
Habitat : Florida Island, Solomon Group. 
(bh) Hoplocephalus. 
Characters the same as in Micropechis. Scales in 21 rows; 
ventrals angulate and notched laterally. Tail moderate; sub- 
caudals in a single row. 
