39 



Fam. XII. Lycodontid^. Harmless-fang ed Snakes. 



Head depressed ; snout spatulate and flat, i^codon. 

 Ej'^e small, generally with vertical pupil. A^Leptorhytam. 



\J J) ft i C \/S • 



large fang in front of the maxillary and mandi- Cercaspis, 

 hie, but not grooved or hollow. 



Fam. XIII. CoLUBRiD^. 



This family comprises all those harmless 

 snakes which do not present any striking cha- 

 racter, are fair and moderate in their propor- 

 tions, and have none of the qualities necessary 

 for their admission into other families. Their 

 head-shields are normal, with the exception 

 of a few species on the debatable ground 

 betwixt this family and the Calamaridae ; they 

 have not the compressed and slender body of 

 the tree-snakes, yet some of them climb and 

 have a green coloration ; they have not the 

 superior nostrils and aquatic build of the true 

 fresh- water snakes, yet some of them are am- 

 phibious. They are divided into the following 

 groups : — 



» 



Group I. — CCRONELLiNA. Grouud Colubers. 

 Of small size, with smooth scales ; in some ^f>^abes. 



Cyclophis. 



genera aberrant species approach the Calama- Odontomua. 



., .. /..I ii«iT Nymphophiditm. 



ridae m imperiect nead-shielding. EiacUstodon. 



Corotiella. 



Group II. — COLUBRINA. Agile Colubers. 

 Attain a lar^je size. Their scales are keeled, ^^/"^f '.'• 



° Elaphxs. 



they are active enough to climb and swim on Compsosoma. 



. . Cynophis. 



occasions, and are swift in their movements Ftyas. 



Xenelaphis. 



alonjx the jxround. Zamcms. 



