58 VENOMS 



(a) Boulengerina. 



A small snake 240 millimetres in length, the principal characters 

 of which are as follows : — 



Maxillary bones equal to the palatines in length, with a pair of 

 relatively large poison-fangs, followed by three or four small teeth. 



Head hardly distinct from the neck. Eye small, with round 

 pupil ; nostril between two nasal shields. Body cylindrical ; scales 

 smooth, in 21 rows ; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate ; subcaudal 

 scales in 2 rows. 



The only known species, B. stormsi, is brown, with black 

 transverse bars on the neck ; tail black ; belly white in front, 

 brown behind, with a black border to the scales. 



It is found in the region of Lake Tanganyika. 



(b) Elapechis. 



This genus is characterised by the size of the maxillary bones, 

 which is equal to that of the palatines ; a pair of large poison-fangs 

 followed by two to four small teeth ; head not distinct from the 

 neck ; eye small with round pupil ; nostril between two nasal 

 shields. Body cylindrical; scales oblique, smooth, in 13 or 15 

 rows ; ventrals rounded. Tail very short, subcaudal shields in 2 

 rows. 



Six species are known : — 



(1) E. guentheri. — Scales in 13 rows. Snout short, rounded ; first 

 lower labial shield in contact with its neighbour behind the 

 symphysis. Internasal shorter than the prsefrontals ; length of 

 frontal three-fourths of that of the parietals. 



Coloration whitish or grey above, with black, white-edged cross- 

 bands. Belly dirty white, brownish, or grey. 

 Total length, 520 millimetres ; tail 50. 

 Habitat : Gaboon, Congo, Angola, Central Africa. 



(2) E. niger. — Snout and arrangement of scales as before. 



