INNOCUOUS SERPENTS. 177 



They have a tail strongly prehensile, and compressed like 

 their trunk. They want the crochets at the anus. They 

 have rounded heads ; the eyes are extremely small, a little 

 vertical, the pupil orbicular, the nostrils are tubular, near 

 the top of the muzzle, and directed forward or upward. 

 All their bodies are covered with very minute scales, not 

 imbricated, mucronated ; and there is on the middle line 

 of the belly a projecting ridge, bristling with scales. The 

 upper part of the orbit is formed by an apophysis of the 

 posterior frontal bone. Teeth as in the genuine Boa. 

 They are essentially aquatics, inhabit the East Indies, and 

 have very sombre colours. Lung prolonged to the very 

 anus. We know only two species of this genus. 



1. AcROCHORDUS Javanicus. — Found in the rivers of 

 Java. Length eight feet, and of a very clumsy form ; 

 nostrils directed forward ; dark brown, charged with nu- 

 merous marblings ; cranium of a bizarre shape, from the 

 shortness of the anterior part, the smallness of the mastoid 

 bones, and the great length of the tympanites. 



2. AcROCHORDUS FASCiATUs. — Form much more slen- 

 der, and size far less than the preceding species ; scales of 

 the lips more developed ; nostrils almost vertical ; colour 

 brown, with pale bands on the sides. Found in India, as 

 far as New Guinea. 



The AcROCHORDUS comprehends the genus Chersydre 

 of CuviER, established after specimens of middle age. To 

 the same category belong also the Acrochordus fascia- 

 Tus and dubius of Shaw, the Hydrus granulatus of 

 Schneider, which Daudin has converted into a Pelamis. 



SCHLEGEL, Vol. ii. 



[The Acrochordus has been caught at Pondichery, in 

 Timor, and Sumatra. The specimen of A. fasciatus in 

 the British Museum is only 18 inches. — Tr.] 



