OPHIDIA. 65 



AcROCHORDUs, Homst. 



This genus is easily known by the little uniform scales which co- 

 ver the head and body, both above and beneath. In the species known, 

 A. javensis, Lac. II, xi, 2; Unguis granulatus^ Schn.; Oular 

 caron of Java; each of the scales is relieved with three small 

 ridges, which, when the skin is well stuffed, resemble insulated 

 tubercles. It attains a large size. Hornstedt erroneously states 

 it to be frugivorous a singular habit for a serpent.(l) 



Serpents which are venomous^, par excellence, or those with 

 isolated fangs, have their organs of manducation constructed 

 on a very pecidiar plan. 



Their superior maxillary bones are very small, attached to 

 a long pedicle, analogous to the external pterygoid apophysis 

 of the sphenoid bone, and are very movable ; in them is fixed 

 a sharp pointed pervious tooth, through which flows a liquor 

 secreted by a large gland, situated under the eye. It is this 

 liquor which, poured into the wound made by the tooth, pro- 

 duces effects, more or less violent, according to the species of 

 the reptile in which it is secreted. This tooth, when the ani- 

 mal does not wish to use it, is concealed in a fold of the gum, 

 and behind it are several germs destined to replace it, in the 

 event of its being broken in a wound. These venomous teeth 

 have been termed by naturalists movable fangs, but in fact it 

 is the maxillary bone which moves ; there are no other teeth 

 in it, so that in this kind of dangerous serpents only the two 

 rows of palatine teeth are to be seen in the upper part of the 

 mouth. 



fr. Xni, 2, only differ by the action of the spirit. Such, also, should be con- 

 sidered the Col. lineatus, Seb.XlI, 3; Miis. Ad. Fr. XII, 1, xx, 1; the Col. Jacula- 

 trix, Seb., I, 9, Sclxeuchz, DCCXV, 2f the Col. atratus, Seb. 1, 9, ix, 2, and even 

 the terlineatus, Lacep. II, xiii, 1; the Col. sibilans, Seb. I, ix, 1, II, Ivi, 4; and 

 the Coul. chapeld, Lacep. II, xii, 1, appear equally alike, as well as the Col. JEscu- 

 lapii, Jacq. and the Jlavescens, Scopol. &c. 8cc. &c. As to the transposition of 

 synonymes, they are innumerable. N.B. The Enhtdrus of Daud. would be non- 

 venomous Colubers, with a compressed tail, but the only species he cites, Jlnguis 

 xyplniru, Henn. aff. an p. 269, and Obs. Zool. p. 288, is evidently a Hydrophis or 

 a Pelamis. 



(1) We have never been able to discover the particular bone Oppel. says he 

 observed in the Acrochordus, as taking- the pl.ace of the poison-fangs, and M. Les- 

 chenault assures us that the Acrochordus is harmless. 

 Vol. II. I 



