38 



B. Snakes of intermediate type. Ventral shields 



FAIRLY developed. HeAD-SHIELDING DEFECTIVE OR 



ABNORMAL. 



Fam. VIII. Calamarid^. Grovelling Snakes. 

 Body cylindrical; head small; tail short Caiamaria. 



, • T^ ,, . , , , ' Macrocalainus. 



tapering. hyQ small ; ventral and subcaudal Oxycaiamus. 

 shields well developed ; head shielded, but with Jspidura. 

 one or more shields absent (generally one or or^i new'^getiSa^ 

 more anterior frontals, and the loreal). Small 

 snakes, living on the surface, under trees, 

 stones, &;c. 



Fam. IX. HoMALOPSiDiE, Eiver Snakes. 

 Body cylindrical ; tail moderate, compressed Fordonia. 



Cantoria. 



at the root. Ventrals rather narrow. Nostrils Cerberus. 

 superior, provided with a fleshy valvule. Ferania. 

 Head-shields often irregular, anterior frontals mphtS!^^' 

 encroached on by the large nasals. The last mrpttm. 

 tooth is transitional between a tooth and a 

 poison-fang. Rarely found far from the water. 



Fam. X. Amblycephalid^e. Blunt-headed Snakes. 



Body compressed, slender ; head short and ^mUycephahis. 

 thick. Often a complete orbital ring of shields. 

 Cleft of the mouth small, lower jaw not expan- 

 sible, no mental groove. 



0. Snakes of high type. Ventral shields fully 



DEVELOPED. HeAD-SHIELDING NORMAL.* 



Fam. XI. Oligodontid^. Filleted Ground Snakes. 



Head normally shielded, with peculiar mark- oitgodon. 

 ings. Teeth few in number, in one genus no 

 palatines. 



* With a few exceptions in the genera Ablabes, Atretium and 

 Zameyiis, of the family Colubridae, the crown and orbital shields are 

 always normal in the families of this section. 



