88 VENOMS 



(1) P. porphijrlacus (Black Snake; fig. 51). — Frontal shield 

 longer than broad; 180 — 200 ventrals; 50—60 subcaudals. 



Colour black on the back ; outer row of scales red at the base ; 

 ventrals red, edged with black. 



(2) P. C'upreus. — 199 — '210 ventrals ; 57 — 72 subcaudals. 

 Colour coppery above, brown or orange below, all the scales and 



shields edged with brown. 



(3) P. australis. — 199 — 220 ventrals ; 57 — 70 subcaudals ; frontal 

 shield once and two-thirds to twice as long as broad. 



Colour pale brown on the back, yellowish on the belly. 



(4) P dartoinicnsis. — Frontal as broad as long; 212 ventrals; 

 54 — 64 subcaudals. 



Colour reddish-brown ; head pale brown ; belly yellowish-white. 



(5) P. papuanus. — Scales in 19 — 21 rows (26 or 27 on the 

 neck) ; 221 — 224 ventrals ; 49 — 55 subcaudals. 



Colour uniform black ; chin white. 



(6) P. scutellatus.- — Subcaudal shields in 2 rows ; scales on 

 the body in 23 rows (25—30 on the neck) ; 230—233 ventrals ; 

 61 — 78 subcaudals. 



Colour pale brown or dark brown ; snout and cheeks pale brown 

 or yellowish ; belly yellow. 



(7) P. microU'pidotus. — 30 — 36 scales across the neck, 23 across 

 the middle of the body ; 232 — 237 ventrals ; 61 — 66 pairs of sub- 

 caudals. 



Colour dark brown on the back, yellowish-grey on the belly ; 

 head sometimes blackish. 



(8) P.ferox. — Snout very broadly rounded. Scales on the body 

 in 23 rows ; 235 ventrals ; 60 pairs of subcaudals. 



Colour black above, yellowish beneath. 



(f) Denisonia. 



Maxillary bones prolonged as far as the palatines, with a pair of 

 large grooved poison-fangs, followed by 3 — 5 small solid teeth ; 



