THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 93 



Habitat : Faro and Howla Islands, Bougainville Straits, 

 Solomon Islands. 



(21) D. woodfordii. — Scales in 17 rows ; 166 — 172 ventrals ; 

 41 — 45 subcaudal pairs. 



Colour brownish-white, with a reticulate pattern; head dark 

 brown ; belly white. 



Total length, 670 millimetres ; tail 100. 



Habitat : New Georgia, Solomon Islands. 



(g) Micropechis. 



Maxillary bones extending forward as far as the palatines, with 

 a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, followed by three small solid 

 teeth ; mandibular teeth longer in front. Head distinct from the 

 neck ; eyes very small, with round pupils ; nostril between two 

 nasal shields. Body cylindrical ; scales smooth, in 15 or 17 rows. 

 Tail short ; subcaudals in 2 rows. 



(1) M. iA-a/ie/t-a.— Scales in 15 rows ; 180—223 ventrals ; 39— 

 55 subcaudals. 



Colour yellow and black, in irregular cross-bars ; head and tail 

 black above ; belly yellow. 



Total length, 1,550 millinaetres ; tail 180. 

 Habitat : New Guinea. 



(2) M. elapoides. — Scales in 17 rows ; 208 ventrals ; 35 sub- 

 caudals. 



Colour cream, with 22 black bands, broader than the inter- 

 spaces between them ; snout and ocular region black. 

 Total length, 750 millimetres ; tail 75. 

 Habitat : Florida Island, Solomon Group. 



(b) Hoplocephalus. 



Characters the same as in Micropechis. Scales in 21 rows ; 

 ventrals angulate and notched laterally. Tail moderate ; sub- 

 caudals in a single row. 



