A small snake 240 millimetres in length, the principal characters of which are as follows:—
Maxillary bones equal to the palatines in length, with a pair of relatively large poison-fangs, followed by three or four small teeth.
Head hardly distinct from the neck. Eye small, with round pupil; nostril between two nasal shields. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 21 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate; subcaudal scales in 2 rows.
The only known species, B. stormsi, is brown, with black transverse bars on the neck; tail black; belly white in front, brown behind, with a black border to the scales.
It is found in the region of Lake Tanganyika.
(b) Elapechis.
This genus is characterised by the size of the maxillary bones, which is equal to that of the palatines; a pair of large poison-fangs followed by two to four small teeth; head not distinct from the neck; eye small with round pupil; nostril between two nasal shields. Body cylindrical; scales oblique, smooth, in 13 or 15 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail very short, subcaudal shields in 2 rows.
Six species are known:—
(1) E. guentheri.—Scales in 13 rows. Snout short, rounded; first lower labial shield in contact with its neighbour behind the symphysis. Internasal shorter than the præfrontals; length of frontal three-fourths of that of the parietals.
Coloration whitish or grey above, with black, white-edged cross-bands. Belly dirty white, brownish, or grey.