THE PBINCIPAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 



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nostril between two or three nasal shields and the internasal. 

 Body cylindrical ; scales smooth or feebly keeled, in 23 rows ; 

 ventrals rounded. Tail rather short ; subcaudal scales for the most 

 part in 2 rows. 



W. cegyptia. — Colour blackish-brown on the back, paler on the 

 belly. 



Total length, 1,170 milhmetres ; tail 170. 



Habitat : Egypt. 



Pig. 34.— Skull of Dendraspis viridis (Poisonous West African Colubrine). 

 (After G. A. Boulenger, op. cit.) 



(g) Dendraspis. 



(Fig. 34.) 



Maxillary bone curved upwards, bearing a pair of powerful 

 poison-fangs, not fissured, and not followed by other teeth; a 

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