SNAKES. 99 



plates : body short, fusiform : scales smooth, flat : subcaudal shields 

 one-rowed. 



Xiphosoma sp., Dum. ^ Bib. Erp. Gen. vi. 549, 1846. 



1. The Sanzin. Sanzinia Madagascariensis. Xiphosoma 

 Madagascariensis, Dum. ^ Bib. Erp. Gen. vi. 549. 



Rostral plates seven-sided, inequilateral : yellowish above, red- 

 dish beneath, with angular white spots. 



Inhab. Madagascar. Mus. Paris. 



10. Cliftia. 



Head covered with scales ; muzzle shielded, with two inter- 

 nasal, two frontonasal, a prefrontal and two superciliary shields : 

 labial shields broad, lower hinder largest, flat, front upper pitted ? 

 loreal shields elongate, with a series of small scales between them 

 and the labial shields : rostral shield flat, not pitted : nostrils late- 

 ral, between two shields: eyes lateral ; pupil elliptical, erect? circle 

 of scales round the eyes incomplete below, over the larger seventh 

 labial shield : one large anterior and four small posterior oculars : 

 body slender: scales ovate, rather thick, smooth, in many longitu- 

 dinal series ; of the upper part of the tail many grooved : tail rather 

 short, conical : subcaudal plates one-rowed. 



This genus may be the same as the Casarea^ but the scales in 

 the dry specimens are not keeled, and the front upper labial shields 

 appear to be pitted, and the tail is short. 



1. The Cliftia. Cliftia fusca. 



Pale brown, with some obscure darker spots. 



a. Stufied. India. From Mr. Cross's collection, 



b. Scales smooth ; labial shields smooth^ not pitted. 



11. Boa. 



Head entirely covered with scales, rather larger in front : labial 

 shields flat, not pitted, short, narrow : nostrils lateral, between two 

 plates: eyes lateral, surrounded with small scales ; pupil elliptical, 

 erect : body fusiform : scales flat, smooth : subcaudal plates one- 

 rowed. 



Boa, Gray, Ann. Phil. 1825, 209. Wagler, Syst. 167. Cen- 

 chris sp., Linn. S. N. ed. 7. Gronov. Mus. Ichthyol. 69, 1754. 

 Constrictor sp., Laur. Syn. Rept. 107, 1768. Boa sp., Linn. Fitz. 

 1826. Boarius, Rafin. Anal. Nat. 77, 1815. 



K 2 



