332 OPHIDIA. 



FAMILY OF SAND SNAKES— ERYCID^. 



Body of moderate length, cylindrical, covered with small, short scales ; 

 tail very short, with a single series of suhcaudals ; head with a hroad snout 

 of moderate length, or somewhat elongate. Eye rather small, with vertical 

 pupil. None of the lahials are pitted ; cleft of the mouth wide ; teeth in 

 the maxillary, on the palate, and in the mandible, none in the intermaxillary ; 

 the anterior teeth are the lonafcst. Adult individuals with a short conical 

 prominence in a groove on each side of the vent ; it is the extremity of a 

 rudimentary hind limb. 



The snakes of this family show great similarity to the Pythons and Boas with regard to 

 their internal structure as well as to their external characters. But their tail is very short, 

 not flexible, much less, prehensile; and whilst the snakes of the families mentioned are 

 more or less arboreal, frequenting marshy places with luxuriant vegetation, the Erycides 

 inhabit dry, sandy or stony plains, burrowing with the greatest facility below the surface, 

 and entering crevices and holes in search of their prey, which consists of mice, lizai'ds, and 

 other burrowing snakes. Probably they are seminocturnal, and able to see in dark places as 

 well as in the night. They are found in Northern Africa, in the islands of the Mediterranean, 

 in Asia Minor, in the peninsula of Southern India, and probably in Arabia ; two species are 

 known to have been brought from Sikkim. 



The following genera occur in British India : — 



Mental groove none ; scales keeled Gongylophis, p. 332. 



Scales smooth Cursoria, p. 333. 



Mental groove present ; scales keeled Eryx, ]). 334. 



GONGYLOPHIS, 7rar/L 



Head flat, oblong, scarcely distinct from neck, with the snout rather long' 

 and obtusely rounded in front, and without canthus rostralis. Body cylin- 

 drical, of moderate length ; tail very short, tapering. Nostril lateral, directed 

 upwards ; eyes rather small, with vertical pupil. Head covered with scales, 

 only the foremost part of the snout and the lips are shielded ; scales small, 

 keeled ; ventrals and subcaudals narrow. Chin entirely covered with small 

 scales, without median groove. Anterior teeth in the jaws and on the palate 

 longest. 



