140 ON THE PHYSIOGNOMY OF SERPENTS. 



posed in 15 rows, and its body is more elongated. S. 

 190 4- 64. Extremely rare. 



3. Heterodon coccineus, the tliird and last species of 

 this genus, is of smaller size, has a pointed head, a pro- 

 jecting bnt not turned-up snout, and tlie body is of a 

 burning-yellow, marked by broad spots of a ]Mirplish-red. 

 R. S. 19. S. 170 -f 50. This species comes from Mexico 

 and the southern in'ovinccs of the United States. 



L Y C D N. 



The Lycodons comjiose tlie fourth genus of non-venom- 

 ous Terrestrial Serpents. Tliey are 0])hidians of a middle 

 size, with a body usually slender, and sometimes thread- 

 like. Their cliaracteristic is the possession of anterior 

 maxillary teeth longer than the rest. Their eyes are small, 

 the pupil vertically elongated. The vertical plate, and the 

 anterior frontals,are small and aggregated, but the occipitals 

 are considerably elongated ; there is only a single frenal. 

 The scales arc lozenge-shaped, and usually smooth ; the 

 abdomen is angular in most of the species, and the tail is 

 often defended by simple scuta. The dominant tint is an 

 earth-brown ; the scales are sometimes bordered with 

 white, and the neck ornamented with a bright collar ; 

 other species have the body annulated with black, white, 

 or red. The Lycodons inhal)it the equatorial regions of 

 both worlds, but they are unknown in New Holland. 



1. Lycodon Hebe, the first s])ecies, has a depressed 

 head, and obtuse muzzle. The posterior frontal plates and 

 the occipitals are very long. Rows of scales, 17- S. 

 196 + 68. Colour, a bro^vn-gl'ey, more or less dark above, 

 ornamented M-ith bright and chequered spots. This last 

 tint borders the scales, and forms a broad collar. The 

 distribution of the colours is subject to accidental varieties ; 

 others arise from climate ; the specimens from Bengal are 

 very bright ; those from Java and Timor are deeper, and 

 of a less robust make. 



2. Lyxodon carixatus, a native of Ceylon, where it is 

 very rare. It has simple scuta under the tail, and the 

 carinated scales are disposed in 17 rows. Colour, coffee- 



