THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 95 



(j) Notechis. 



Same general characters ; pupil round ; nasal shield entire. 

 Body cylindrical; scales smooth, disposed obliquely, in 15—19 

 rows, the lateral scales shorter than the dorsals. Tail moderate ; 

 subcaudals in a single row. 



N. scutatus (Syn. Hoploceph- 

 alics curtus. The Tiger Snake. 

 Fig. 59). — Colour dark olive ; 

 belly yellow or olive ; the shields 

 often dark-edged. 



Total length, 1,280 milli- 

 metres ; tail 170. Fig. 59.— NotecMs scutatus (The Tiger 



Habitat: Austraha and Tas- ^""^^^-l 



mania. 



(k) Bhinhoplocephalus. 



Dentition as in Hoplocephalus. Head but little distinct from 

 the neck ; eyes small, with round pupils ; no internasal shields. 

 Body cylindrical, rigid. Scales smooth, in 15 rows. Tail short ; 

 subcaudals in a single row. 



B. bicolor. — -Colour greyish-olive on the back, yellowish-white 

 on the belly ; tongue white. 



Total length, 395 millimetres ; tail 55. 



Habitat : Australia. 



(1) Brachyaspis. 



Characters the same, but head distinct from the neck ; eyes 

 small, with vertically elliptic pupils ; nostril between two nasal 

 shields. Body stout, cylindrical ;. scales smooth, slightly oblique, 

 in 19 rows. Tail short ; subcaudals in a single row. 



B. curta. — Colour uniform olive-brown ; belly yellowish. 



