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VENOMS 



Thej" are characterised b)' a triangular head, covered with small 

 scales or small shields, and by a cylindrical or compressed body. 

 The Asiatic species have the subcaudal scales in two rows and the 

 tail short, and often prehensile, which enables them to climb trees 

 or bushes, v^here they lie in wait for their prey. 



Their classification is based upon the following characters ; — 



A. First infralabial scale in contact with its fellow. 



I. Scales in '21 — '2y (rarely 27) rows ; 129 — 158 ventrals ; 21 — 

 57 subcaudals ; 5 — 9 series of scales between the supraocular 

 shields; tail non prehensile. 



Fig. .32, — Lacliesis oliinnvcnsis. (After G. .\. Boulenger, op. cit.) 



(1) L. monticola. — Supraocular shields large, separated by 5 — 8 

 scales ; snout obtuse. 



Colour brown or yellowish above, brown or pale yellow on the 

 sides, with a brown temporal streak. Belly white, spotted with 

 brown. 



Total length, 740 millimetres; tail 115. 



Habitat : Tibet, Himalayas (2,000 to 8,000 feet), Hills of Assam, 

 Burma, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra. 



(2) L. okinavensis (fig. 32). — Supraocular shields large, separ- 



