156 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



slender, with a thin neck and a narrow head, whilst others 

 are somewhat stout, with a more or less triangular head. 

 Cantor, who has kept this species alive, has made the 

 following observations : " Numbers of this species may be 

 seen in all the rivers, as well as in irrigated fields and 

 estuaries, preying upon fishes, which, however, it refuses 

 in a state of captivity. It is of timid and peaceful habits. 

 A large female, after having been confined for upwards of 

 six months in a glass vessel filled with water, brought forth 

 eleven young ones. Shortly after parturition she expired ; 

 two of the young ones also died in the course of about two 

 hours, after having, like the rest, shed their integuments. 

 In length they varied from six to seven inches. The living 

 nine presented a most singular appearance : they remained 

 a little way below the surface of the water, coiling them- 

 selves round the body of an adult male which was also kept 

 in the vessel, occasionally lifting their heads above the 

 surface to breathe, at the same time resisting the efforts of 

 the senior to free himself. Fishes and aquatic insects were 

 refused, in consequence of which the young expired from 

 inanition in the course of less than two months." 



The sub-family Dipsadomorphina, the typical back- 

 fanged snakes, of which there are over eighty genera, is 

 represented nearly all over the world ; they are mostly 

 arboreal in habits, feeding on birds and lizards. 



Coelopeltis has the maxillary teeth of moderate size and 

 sub-equal, followed, after an interspace, by one or two very 

 large grooved fangs ; the anterior mandibular teeth are 

 strongly enlarged. The head, which is somewhat angular 

 in shape, is distinct from the neck ; the eye is large with a 

 round pupil. The body is elongate, with smooth scales. 



