722 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



ftft. No labial fossie. 



Muzzle and front scaled; nasal plates meeting Lichanura Cope. 



Muzzle and front scaled ; nasal plates widely separated 



Boa Linnaeus.' 



Muzzle and front scutate ; nares vertical Eunectes Wagler. 



Muzzle and front with scuta divided on the median line; nares lat- 

 eral Chilaboihrus Dum6ril and Bibron,^ 



Muzzle and front with median scuta ; nares lateral 



Ungaliophis Meyer. 

 aa. Scales carinate. 



Top of head with symmetrical plates; nares in a single plate 



Bolieria Gray.^ 



Plates on muzzle only Casarea C4ray.'' 



Top of head scaly ; rostral plate forming border of mouth 



Enygrns Wagler. 

 Top of head scaly; labial plates meeting below rostral plate 



Ti'achyhoa Peters, 

 II. Tail not prehensile. 



a. Palatine teeth well developed. 



/j. Rudiments of hind limbs visible. 



A mental groove Gonglyophis Wagler. 



No mental groove Eryx Daudin.'^ 



/i/i. No visible rudiments of hind limbs. 



Scales keeled ; head very distinct Erebophis GUuther. 



aa. Palatine teeth none (Peters). 



Scales smooth; top of head with symmetrical plates to between 

 orbits ; one nasal Calabaria Gray.'' 



The species of the Pythoniute are restricted to the Pahfotropical, 

 Ethiopian, aud Australian realms except those of the single genus Loxo- 

 cemtts Cope, which inhabit Mexico and Central America, within the 

 Nootropic realm. 



The only genus of Boin;e which is known to enter the boundaries 

 of the Nearctic realm is Hchmiura. It is i)0ssible that the Boa impera- 

 tor has been seen in the valley of the Lower Rio Grande, but of this 

 positive evidence is as yet wanting. This species and Epicrates angu- 

 lifera of Cuba, and also species of Ungalia are occasionally introduced 

 into the country in bunches of bananas. The serpent winds itself tightly 

 around the stem, and is concealed from view until the fruit is being 

 removed. Unless of large size, these snakes are harmless. 



LICHANURA Cope. 



Lichanura Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. I'hila., 1861, p. 304; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 No. 32, 1887, p. 50.— BouLKNGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus., I, 1893, p. 129. 



General form abbreviated and stout; tail short, slightly prehensile, 

 obtuse at the extremity. Head slightly distinct; eye small, pupil ver- 



' Aerantophia .Ian. 



2 Includes IIoinalocUiluH Fischer; I'dopkilus Dumtn-il and Bibron {^^Sa)izinia 

 Gray) ; Dcndrophilus Jan, and PiesUjaater Seoane. 

 ■'■ Platygaster Dum^ril and Bibron. 

 ' Leploboa Dumcril and Bibron. 

 '' Cusoria Gray. 

 '" Rhoptrura Peters; may belong to the Charinida'. 



