374 



L WER VER TEBRA TES. 



been compared with that of a dog, ■\\hich aiumal it further resembles in its habit of 

 sua^jping at whatever disturbs it. It often secretes itself iu the thatched roofs of huts 

 where it finds a large assemblage of insects. The genus Pareas includes a few sijecies 

 inhabiting Java, and neighboring islands, which have the palatine and mandibular 

 teeth gradually increasing in length from behind forwards. 



The members of the family Scytalid^ are closely related with those of Dipsa- 

 didae. But three genera are known. Oxyrhojms ckelia and doliatus are found in 

 Mexico, Hologerrhum inhabits the Philippines, and Scytale South America. 



The family of Lycodontid^ embraces a number of snakes of moderate length, 

 with small eyes and generally vertical pupil. The shields of the head present nothinc 

 extraordinary ; the dentition alone being prominently characteristic. The maxillary 

 armament has anteriorly a jjair of elongated teeth. 



Fig. 217. — Scytale coroii<it<( 



From the peculiar shajje of the jnipil of this family it would seem that the mem- 

 bers are nocturnal, yet this is not the case with most, as they feed almost exclusively 

 on skinks, M'hich can only be cajitured during the day. Some African Lycodonts are, 

 however, nocturnal, feeding on mice. 



The genus Lycodon includes some of the most common snakes of India, L. mili- 

 eus being perhajjs the most abundant. The fangs in the front of the jaws admirably 

 adapt this animal for seizing and retaining the small hard-skinned saurians which 

 foi'm almost its only food. It is a small animal of only about two feet in length. 



The highest family of colubriform ophidians is made up of the wart-snakes, Acro- 

 CHORDiD^, which are disposed in three genera. Acrochordiis javanicus has the body 

 covered with small, wart-like, tubercular or spiny scales, no shields on the head, and no 

 specialized ventml scutes; the tail is short and prehensile; the nostrils close together 

 and at the tiji of the snout. It is viviparous, as are the other members of the family, 



