16 THE OEDEE OF SNAKES— OP HID lA. 



that inflicted the bite was a dangerous one. In reporting their cases, 

 parties interested are seldom able to give any information beyond the 

 popular name by which a certain snake is known in the district in which 

 tliey reside ; and, as no general work on Australian Herpetology has yet 

 been published, it is next to impossible, even for those who feel a great deal 

 of interest in the matter, to master the often vexatious subject of snake 

 classification. 



We shall now proceed to enumerate the various species, and then 

 give as many figures as possible, by means of which, and the descriptions, 

 students of this branch of science will be better able than heretofore to 

 form an opinion respecting venomous and harmless reptiles. 



FIRST SXJBORDEH. 



INNOCUOUS SNAKES-0P^JZ)J7 COLUBBIFOBMES. 

 Snakes without grooved or perforated fang-like teeth in front. 



Five families are represented in Australia. 



1. BiiNii-sifAKES — f Ventral scales not larger than those on the back ; mental groove 



Typhlopidae. t none ; upper labials four. 



2. CoLTTBEiBES — C Body neither very slender nor compressed ; no fang-like tooth 



Colubridse. ^- in front or in the middle of the upper jaw. 



3. Teee-snakes — f Body and tail much compressed or very slender ; head elongate ; 



Dendrophidas. ^ eye large, pupil round ; no fang-Uke tooth in front. 



4. NocTiJENAi, Thee- C Body and base of tail much compressed ; head sub-triangular, 



SNAKES — ■ ) broad behind, very distinct from neck, with short snout ; eye 



Dipsadidae. ( very large, pupil elliptical, erect. 



5. EocK-SNAKES — C Body cylindrical, flexible ; anterior maxillary teeth unequal iu 



Pythonidae. t length, rudiments of hind limbs present. 



