84 VENOMS 



eyes small ; pupils round or vertically subelliptic ; nostrils pierced 

 between 2 nasal shields. Body cylindrical ; scales smooth, in 17 

 rows ; tail short ; subcaudals in 2 rows. 



G. trlstis. — Ventral scales 165 — 179 ; subcaudals 38 — 52. 



Colour dark brown; occiput often yellowish, or pale reddish- 

 brown ; belly yellow. 



Total length, 900 millimetres; tail 125. 



Habitat : North-eastern Australia and South-eastern New 

 Guinea. 



(c) Pseudelaps. 



Maxillaries extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a 

 pair of large grooved poison-fangs, and, after a wide interval, 

 8 — 12 small grooved teeth. The anterior mandibular teeth are 

 'of large size, almost like fangs. Head hardly distinct from the 

 neck ; eyes small, with vertically elliptic pupils. Body cylindrical ; 

 scales smooth, in 15 — 17 rows. Tail moderate or short ; sub- 

 caudal scales in 2 rows. 



(1) P. muelleri. — Scales in 15 rows. Nasal shield divided, in 

 contact with the prseocular ; 2 -|- 2 temporals ; 139 — 176 ventral 

 scales ; 21 — 35 subcaudals. 



Colour brown, with a light vertebral line ; a more or less distinct 

 dark, light-edged streak on each side of the head, passing through 

 the eye ; belly yellowish or coral-red; uniform or spotted with 

 black. 



Total length, 500 miUimetres ; tail 70. 



Habitat : Moluccas, New Guinea, New Britain. 



(2) P. squamulosiis. — Scales in 15 rows. Nasal shield divided, 

 in contact with the prseocular ; 1 -t- 2 temporals ; 170 — 183 ventrals ; 

 34 — 52 subcaudals. 



Colour brown, with a yellowish streak round the snout and 

 through the eyes to the nape; belly whitish, with confluent black 

 spots forming hnes on each side. 



