1.4 THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



BUNGARUS FLAVICEPS-The Yellow-headed 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 Tenas- 

 serim, 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." 



BUNGARUS BUNGAROIDES-The North-Eastern Hill Krait. 



Identification. — 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. — Grows to 3 feet. 



Colour. — Black with white linear crossbars, the most anterior of 

 which are chevron-shaped. 



* Cat. Snakes, Brit. Mus,, Vol. Ill, p. 371. 



