776 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIX. 



The species of both genera are very much alike, so much so indeed 

 that some have been much confused. For instance every author 

 who wrote before Mr. Boulenger's present classification was inaugura- 

 ted, alluded to I >endrelaplm h'istis, and DendropUis pictus as one 

 and the same snake under the latter title, and the confusion did not 

 end here, for every writer since has committed the same mistake. 



I have heard doubts expressed in some quarters as to the justifica- 

 tion for the recognition of the two genera just referred to, but as 

 I have a series of skulls of the types of both, I am in a position to be 

 able not only to afiirm that the differences claimed exist, but to add 

 others in support. Mr. Boulenger divided the species on characters 

 affecting the maxillary teeth, grouping together those in which the 

 teeth enlarged posteriorly under the heading Dendrophis, and tiiose 

 in which they reduced posteriorly under the title Dendreliphis. 

 Figures A. and B. taken from the skulls of specimsns of both obtain- 

 ed at Pashok in the Eastern Himalayas illustrate the diffarences in 

 dentition, but I find in addition that there are decided differences in 

 the shape of the nasal bones, and also in the ridges for muscular 

 attachment on the parietal bones of each [see Diagram and Hgs. A and 

 B.). The confusion in literature between D. iristis and D. pictus just 

 referred to makes it difficult for me to speak very positively on the 

 distribution of these species, but I present the facts as they appear to 

 me, with the hope that our readers who are in a position to do so 

 will send me specimens that will enable me to confirm or refute them. 



DENDRELAPHIS TRISTIS (Daudin.) 



The Indian Bronze-Backed Tree Snake. 



History. — The first reference to this snake was made by Russell over 

 a century ago. In 1796* he figured and remarked upon a specimen 

 from Hyderabad (Deccan). In 1801 t he figured and referred to two 

 others irom Bombay and Tranquebar. 



Nomenclature — (a) Scientific. — The generic name from the Greek 

 SeySpov ii tree, and eXa^ig snake, was introduced by Mr. Boulenger in 

 1890. Tristis, the specific title from the Latin " sad " was conferred 

 by Daudin in 1803 in allusion to its sombre colouration. 



(h) English. — The Common Indian Bronze-Backed Tree Snake or 



• Ind, t-ecp. Vol. 1, \k 36 and Plate XXXI. f Vol. II, pp. 2a and 30 and Plates 

 XXV and XXVI. 



