40 VENOMS 



cavity. Scales in 13 or 15 rows ; 190 — 260 ventrals, 12 — 44 sub- 

 caudals in 2 rows. 



Four species belonging to this genus are known : — 



(1) H. calligaster. — 2 + 3 temporal scales, 6 supralabials. 

 Colour purple, with black transverse bands separated by narrow 



white bars ; belly and end of tail red ; snout yellow, with a black 

 band on the upper lip below the eyes. 



Total length, 520 millimetres ; tail 30. 



Habitat : Philippine Islands. 



(2) H. collaris. — No anterior temporal scales. 



Colour black on the back, with black and red bands on the belly ; 

 a yellow collar on the occiput. 



Total length, 430 millimetres ; tail 16. 

 Habitat : Philippine Islands. 



(3) H. nigrescens. — Scales in 13 rows. A single temporal scale ; 

 218 — 251 ventrals ; 33 — 44 subcaudals. 



Belly uniformly red ; upper lip yellow in front of and behind 

 the eyes. 



Total length, 1,100 millimetres ; tail 115. 



Habitat : Hills of Western India, from Bombay to Travancore. 



(4) H.japonicus. — Scales in 13 rows ; 190 — 216 ventrals; 28 — 29 

 subcaudals ; temporals 1 + 1. 



Colour red on the back, vyith 1 — 5 black bands crossed by other 

 black bands edged with yellow. Snout and sides of head black. 

 Belly yellow, with large black spots alternating with black trans- 

 verse bands. 



Total length, 520 millimetres ; tail 40. 



Habitat : Loo Choo Islands. 



(d) Callophis. 



This genus is characterised by the maxillary bones extending 

 forwards beyond the palatines, with a pair of large poison-fangs, 

 but without other teeth. Head and eyes small, pupils round ; 



