CHAP. XIX.] 



EEPTILES. 



383 



genus, and they are anniilated with rings of various colours 

 in a manner quite distinct from any other members of this 

 family. The genera, which are all very distinct, are distributed 

 as follows : — 



Diemcnia, Acanthophis, Hoplocephalus, Brachiurophis, Tropi- 

 dechis, Pseudecliis, Cacophis, Fseudonaje, Dcnisonia, and Ver7ni- 

 cella, are Australian, the first two ranging to the Moluccas and 

 New Guinea ; Ogmodon occurs in the Fiji Islands ; Naja, Bun- 

 garus, Ophiophagus, Fseudonaje, Xenurelaps, Doliophis, Megaro- 

 phis, and CallopMs are Oriental, one species of the latter genus 

 being found in Japan, while an Ophiophagus has been discovered 

 in New Guinea; Gyrtophis, Elapsoidea, and Pcecilophis are 

 African : Elaps is American, ranging as far north as South Caro- 

 lina, but not to the West Indian Islands. 



Family 21.— DENDRASPIDID^. (1 Genus, 5 Species.) 



General Distribution. 



Neotropical 

 Sub-regions. 



Neakctic I Pal^arctic 

 Sub-regions. Sub-kegions. 



Ethiopian 

 Sdb-regions. 



Oriental 

 Sub-regions. 



Australian 

 Sub-regions. 



-1.2 



The single genus Dendraspis, constituting the family, is con- 

 fined to Tropical Africa. 



Family 22.— ATRACTASPIDID^. (1 Genus, 4 Species.) 



This small family, consisting of the genus Atractaspis, is also 

 confined to Africa, but has hitherto only been found in the West 

 and South. 



