328 OPHIDIA. 



Pareas l^vis. 



Amblycephalus Isevis, [Kiehl] Boie, his, 1827, p. 519. 



Dipsas Ijevis, Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 287. pi. 11. figs. 24 & 25. 



Pareas Isevis, Diim. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 442. 



Head short, with broad, obtusely rounded snout, not elevated, distinct from neck ; eye of 

 moderate size, with elliptical pupil ; body of moderate length, compressed ; tail short. 

 Rostral shield as high as broad ; anterior frontals twice as broad as long, half the size of 

 posterior, which enter the upper part of the orbit. Vertical large, six-sided, as broad as, or 

 broader than, long, with a very obtuse angle in front. Occipitals of moderate size. Nostril 

 rather wide, in the posterior part of a single nasal. Loreal none, replaced by the smgle 

 prseocular. Supraciliary and two postoculars narrow, small, sometimes confluent. Seven or 

 eight upper labials, the third and fourth of which enter the orbit, the two posterior being 

 very low. Temporals rather irregularly arranged, the two anterior being elongate and in 

 contact with the oculars. Maxillary teeth minute, few in number ; palatine and mandibulary 

 teeth slender, feeble ; the latter are closely set, numerous, longest anteriorly, and gradually 

 decreasing in length posteriorly. Specimens from the continent have these teeth rather 

 swollen and more equal in length than specimens from the islands. Scales smooth, thin, 

 without apical groove, in fifteen rows, those of the vertebral series being but little larger than 

 the others. Ventrals 150-164; anal entire; subcaudals 34-46. Brown or blackish ash, 

 marbled with black, the black colour being disposed in irregular cross bands ; belly brown 

 (Java), or white with irregular blackish lateral spots (Java, Cochinchina). 



This snake is found in Java, Cochinchina (Lao Mountains), and Khasya. Our largest 

 specimen is 16 inches long, the tail measuring 3 inches. 



FAMILY OF ROCK SNAKES— P FTWOAYZ).^. 



Body and tall of moderate length or rather slender, rounded ; tail pre- 

 hensile ; head with the snout rather long, depressed, truncated or rounded 

 In front. Eye of moderate size, with vertical pupil. Scales smooth, in 

 numerous series; subcaudals two-rowed. Some of the upper and lower 

 labials are ])ltted. Teeth in the intermaxillary, maxillary, palatine, pterygoid, 

 and mandibulary bones, of unequal size ; none are grooved. Adult individuals 

 with a spur-like prominence on each side of the vent ; it is the extremity of 

 a rudimentary hind limb hidden between the muscles. 



The Eock-snakes are found in the hottest parts of Africa, Asia, the East Indian Archi- 



