CHAP, XI.] THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. 279 
the right hand corner is the Leptosoma discolor, a bird which 
appears to be intermediate between such very distinct families 
as the cuckoos and the rollers, and is therefore considered to 
form a family by itself. It is a coppery-green above and nearly 
white beneath, with a black bill and red feet. The fan-shaped 
plant on the left is the traveller's tree (Urania speciosa), one of 
the peculiar forms of vegetation in this marvellous island. 
Reptiles—These present some very curious features, compara- 
tively few of the African groups being represented, while there 
are a considerable number of Eastern and even of American 
forms. Beginning with the snakes, we find, in the enormous 
family of Colubride, none of the African types; but instead of 
them three genera—Herpetodryas, Philodryas, and Heterodon— 
only found elsewhere in South and North America. The 
Psammophide, which are both African and Indian, are repre- 
sented by a peculiar genus, Mimophis. The Dendrophide are 
represented by Ahetulla, a genus which is both African and 
American. The Dryiophide, which inhabit all the tropics but 
are most developed in the Oriental region, are represented by 
a peculiar genus, Langaha. The tropical Pythonide are repre- 
sented by another peculiar genus, Sanzinia. The Lycodontide 
and Viperide, so well developed in Africa, are entirely absent. 
The lizards are no less remarkable. The Zonuridz, abun- 
dantly developed in Africa, are represented by one peculiar 
genus, Cicigna. The wide-spread Scincide by another peculiar 
genus, Pygomeles. The African Sepsidz, are represented by three 
genera, two of which are African, and one, Amphiglossus, peculiar. 
The Acontiade are represented by a species of the African genus 
Acontias. Of Scincide there is the wide-spread Euprepes. The 
Sepide are represented by the African genera Seps and Scelotes. 
The Geckotide are not represented by any purely African 
genera, but by Phyllodactylus, which is American and <Aus- 
tralian; Hemidactylus, which is spread over all the tropics; by 
two peculiar genera; and by Uroplatis, Geckolepis, and Phelswma, 
confined to Madagascar, Bourbon, and the Andaman Islands. 
The Agamide, which are mostly Oriental and are represented in 
