THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 95 
(j) Notechis. 
Same general characters; pupil round; nasal shield entire. 
Body cylindrical; scales smooth, disposed obliquely, in 15—19 
rows, the lateral scales shorter than the dorsals. Tail moderate ; 
subcaudals in a single row. 
N. scutatus (Syn. Hoploceph- 
alus curtus. The Tiger Snake. 
Fig. 59). — Colour dark olive ; 
belly yellow or olive; the shields 
often dark-edged. 
Total length, 1,280 nulli- 
metres; tail 170. Fic. 59.—Notechis scutatus (The Tiger 
Habitat: Australia and Tas- pace.) 
mania. 
(k) Rhinhoplocephalus. 
Dentition as in Hoplocephalus. Head but little distinct from 
the neck ; eyes small, with round pupils; no internasal shields. 
Body cylindrical, rigid. Scales smooth, in 15 rows. Tail short; 
subcaudals in a single row. 
R. bicolor—Colour greyish-olive on the back, yellowish-white 
on the belly ; tongue white. 
Total length, 395 millimetres; tail 55. 
Habitat: Australia. 
(1) Brachyaspis. 
Characters the same, but head distinct from the neck; eyes 
small, with vertically elliptic pupils; nostril between two nasal 
shields. Body stout, cylindrical ; scales smooth, slightly oblique, 
in 19 rows. Tail short; subcaudals in a single row. 
B. curta.—Colour uniform olive-brown ; belly yellowish. 
