INNOCUOUS SERPENTS. 155 



DENDROrniS. 



They may be considered as Coluhri of an elongated and 

 slender form. Their trunk is compressed ; the abdomen, 

 and even the tail, are ordinarily angular, and clothed with 

 very broad plates ; the scales, disposed in very oblique rows, 

 have a lanceolate or even a linear shape on the neck ; the 

 tail is very slender ; the head presents almost the same 

 structure as that of the genera Coluber and Herpetodryas, 

 but its form is much longer ; the eye is large, the pupil 

 orbicular. This genus is adorned with very vivid colours, 

 and inhabits the warm regions of both worlds ; it exists 

 not in Europe, and is very rare in Australia. 



1. Dendrophis Liocerus. Scales carinated, and dis- 

 posed in 15 rows. The frenal plate is wanting. S. 155 



+ 145. Above of a bronze colour, passing, on the front 

 parts, into green, and into white on the lower parts, with 

 a black streak behind the eye. Teeth delicate, and of equal 

 length. Extends from Martinique to Brazil, and to Chile. 



2. Dendrophis Catesbyi. Much allied to the preced- 

 ing, but differs in having 17 rows of smooth scales, in its 

 gi'eenish tints, and more slender tail. S. 170+ 184. From 

 the Island of St Domingo. 



3. Dendrophis aurata. Form more gracile than any 

 other serpent ; head very small ; muzzle more short than 

 usual ; eyes large; abdomen convex ; 13 rows of smooth 

 scales. Dominant colour, gilded bronze. S. 144+158. 

 Surinam ; extremely rare. 



4. Dendrophis picta. Found in every part of inter- 

 tropical Africa and Asia, from Senegal to New Holland. 

 Very subject to variation. Scales smooth ; a range of 

 dorsal scales, very broad in the form of plates. Angles 

 of the abdomen salient and sloping. Above browTi-bronze ; 

 sides of the abdomen marked by a yellow ray, bordered 

 with black ; below whitish ; on the sides of the neck there 

 are often oblique black and blue spots. S. 175 + 128. 



5. Dendrophis Formosa. Size and habit of the 

 last ; but its head and dorsal scales are larger ; the eyes 

 more voluminous ; the occipital plates smaller ; and the 



