CROCODILIANS, IJZAKDS, AND SNAKES. 721 



BOID.E. 



Witbiji this family the characters of tlie lieinii)eni.s vaiy consider- 

 ably. The plica' are more or less undulate, and in some genera they 

 fuse at intervals, producing pockets which sometimes approach the 

 character of calyces. The sulcus, and generally the entire organ, is 

 bifurcate. The i)lica' may also be represented at the apex by distinct 

 l)apilla'. The genera which I have examined present the following- 

 characters : 



I. Sulcus double. 



a. Hemipenis single. 



Plicatii ;ind not i)ai)illose Eryx Daiulin.' 



art. Hemipenis furcate entirely plifate /lixi Linn.i iis.- Eunecies Wagler.-' 



c Lichanura Cope.^ 



More or less pocketed < Python Daudin.' 



( Enygrus Wagler." 

 Apex ]japillose Epicrates Wagler.^ 



II. Sulcus single. 



Apex papillose Cliilubothrus ''Dumeril and Bibron. 



The sulcus in tlie ChilahotJinis xtriata examined is divided for a short 

 distance, when the branches reunite. 



Several forms of this family I have not been able to examine, as 

 ChondropytJioti, Saurinia, BoUeria, etc. I therefore give now a synopsis 

 of the genera based on the other known characters. 



I. Supraorbital bones present (I'ythoniuiv). 



I. Premaxillary teeth present. 



- a. Fossa' in labial plates of both jaws. 



Scuta on end of muzzle only Morelia Gray. 



Scuta extending to between orbits Python Daudin. 



Scuta covering vertex and muzzle Liasis Gray. ' 



cxa. Fossa? in inferior labials only. 



Muzzle shielded to frontal region Xardod Gray. 



(taa. No labial foss*. 



Head shielded ; tail prehensile AsjAdiotes Krettt. 



Head with nine regular shields above; rostrals plate protuberant; tail 

 not prehensile Loxocemus Cope. 



II. No premaxillary teeth. '" 



Labial plati-s witli fossa-; vertex and front scjuanions; nostril in one nasal; 



scales smooth Chondropython Meyer. 



Head covered with large scuta Aspidopython Meyer. 



2. Supraorbital bones absent. (Boina.) 

 I. Tail iireheusile. 

 a. Scales smooth. 



/J. Labial fossie present. 



Plates on muzzle only Xiphosoma Wagler." 



Plates extending over muzzle and front Epicrates Wagler.'^ 



' E. jacnhis. » B. constrictor. 



■^ E. marinus. * L. tririrgata. 



■P. {ArorcJia) aryns. '^ E. carinatnu. 



' E. anguhfera. « C. striatv.s. 



■' Coralliis and Chryseiiia (iray. "^ Epicarsiiis Fischer. 



" CoraUiis and Chryseuin Gray. '- Ejncarsius Fischrr. 



NAT 31 IS 98 40 



