CALLOPHIS. 347 



two-postoculars ; temporals In a single longitudinal series. Six, seven, or 

 eight upper labials, the third and fourth entering the orbit. Scales smooth, 

 not much imbricate, in thirteen rows, those of the vertebral series not en- 

 larged. Subcaudals bifid. Maxillary with a grooved fang In front, without 

 other teeth behind. 



The Callophides are very similar to one another : their body is cylindrical, of nearly the 

 same width throughout, and much elongate, the number of ventral shields almost always 

 exceeding 200. The head is of moderate length, slightly depressed, not distinct from neck, 

 with broad rounded snout. The nostril is lateral, rather narrow, situated between two 

 shields ; eye small, with round pupil. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, not much 

 extensible. The shields on the upper side of the head normal, the occipitals generally some- 

 what elongate. Loreal absent ; the single pr?eocular forms a short suture with the hinder 

 nasal ; it extends on to the upper surface of the head, but does not reach the vertical, which is 

 comparatively narrow. Two postoculars, in contact with the single anterior temporal. The 

 number of upper labials does not exceed eight, generally there are less than eight, the third 

 and fourth entering the orbit. Scales invariably in thirteen rows, smooth, polished, not 

 much imbricate. Tail short, tapering, with bifid subcaudals. 



The Callophides are more numerous on the East Indian continent than in the Archi- 

 pelago ; they are the representatives of the American Elaps, of the Australian Vermicella, 

 and of the African ffomorelaps ; they appear to prefer hilly countries to the plains, live con- 

 stantly on the ground, and are slow in their movements. In their habits, in their form, and 

 in their powerless muscular organization they show the greatest similarity to the Calamariae ; 

 and this is why the Callophides almost entirely feed on the latter — the venomous snake being 

 able to overpower the non-venomous. Both these genera have also the same geographical 

 distribution ; and Ceylon, where we do not find the Calamarice, is not inhabited by a single 

 Cullojihis. If we are allowed to judge from the number of individuals of both genera 

 brought to Europe in collections, the Calamarioe are about twice as numerous as the Callo- 

 phides. Cantor has had the opportunity of observing them iu a living state ; he says that they 

 are generally seen lying motionless, with the body thrown into many irregular folds, but not 

 coiled. Although they are diurnal, their sight, from the minuteness of the pupil, appears 

 to be as defective as their sense of hearing, and they may be closely approached without 

 apparently their being aware of danger. He never observed them to bite voluntarily, even 

 when provoked, and he had difficulty in making an adult C. gracilis bite a fowl, — although, 

 of course, the venom of these snakes is as virulent as that of a viper, the animals used for 

 the experiments having died in the course of from one to three hours after they had been 

 bitten. Therefore the greatest caution should be observed in catching or handling these 

 snakes. The shortness of their fangs and the small quantity of their poisonous fluid, how- 

 ever, will always give a very fair chance of recovery if an accident should occur and the 

 proper remedies be applied. 



All the species known occur in British India : — 



2 Y 2 



