THE ZOOLOGY OP BRITISH INDIA. 313 



by tlie prolongation of the liiuder ribs and tbeir connection by a 

 broad expansible fold of skin, tbe whole forming a sub-semicircular 

 wing on each side of the body, and serving as an organ of flight. 

 The species of Braco known to science are fourteen, entirely confined 

 to the Indian region, that is, South-eastern Asia and the great 

 islands adjoining. Only one of these — Dr«co dussumieri — is found in 

 the peninsula of India ; others, however, occur on the opposite side 

 of the Bay of Bengal. 



The Ophidians, which Dr. Giinther next enters upon, are the 

 most formidable part of the Indian Heptilian Fauna : we are not 

 now alluding to those who encounter them in a state of nature, but 

 to the Naturalist who has to arrange and determine their numerous 

 and varying forms in his cabinet. Had our author not already 

 previously devoted much time and toil to the working out of a large 

 section of this group, as shown by his well-known catalogue of 

 Colubrine Snakes,* he would hardly have succeeded so well in the 

 present part of his book. Of the Innocuous Colubrine division 

 of this extensive order 203 species, of the Venomous Colubrine 

 60 species, and of the Yiperine section 19 species are contained in 

 Dr. Giinther's work, and with the exception of the Sea-snakes 

 (Hydrophiidse) where a complete monographic account of all the 

 known species is introduced, nearly all these occur within the limits 

 assigned by Dr. Griinther to his labours. Space will not permit us, 

 we fear, to discuss separately each of the twenty-one families, to 

 which these 282 species are assigned by Dr. Giinther, but we must 

 say a few words on some of the more prominent forms. At the 

 head of the order Dr. Giinther stations the Typhlopidae, Tortricidse, 

 Xenopeltidse, and Uropeltidse, four abnormal families, the members 

 of which depart from the usual habit of the Ophidians by living 

 entirely or almost always underground. The last-named group 

 forms one of the most peculiar features of the Eeptili-fauna of India 

 proper, being known to occur only in Ceylon and the adjoining parts 

 of the peninsula. Eighteen species of this curious type are recognized 

 by Dr. Giinther, and now that attention has been called to them there 

 is little doubt that further discoveries will ere long be made in them. 

 They are by no means scarce in their native country, but escape 

 observation by their peculiar mode of life. " In order to collect 



* Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in the British Museum. By Dr. A. Giinther, 

 London, 1858. 



