374 



LOWER VER TEBRA TES. 



been compared with that of a dog, which animal it further resembles in its habit of 

 snapping at whatever disturbs it. It often secretes itself in the thatched roofs of huts, 

 where it finds a large assemblage of insects. The genus Pareas includes a few species 

 inhabiting Java, and neighboring islands, which have the palatine and mandibular 

 teeth gradually increasing in length from behind forwards. 



The members of the family Scytalid^ are closely related with those of Dipsa- 

 didse. But three genera are known. Oxyrliopus cloelia and doliatus are found in 

 Mexico, Jlologerrhutn inhabits the Philippines, and Scytale South America. 



The family of Lycodontid^ embraces a number of snakes of moderate lenoth, 

 with small eyes and generally vertical pupil. Tlie shields of the head present nothinc 

 extraordinary ; the dentition alone being prominently characteristic. The maxillary 

 armament has anteriorly a pair of elongated teeth. 



Fig. 217. — Sri/tale coronala. 



From the ))eculiar shape of the ])U]iil of this family it would seem that tlie mem- 

 bers are nocturnal, yet this is not the case with most, as they feed almost exclusively 

 on skinks, which can only be captured during the day. Some African Lycodonts are, 

 however, nocturnal, feeding on mice. 



The genus Lycodon includes some of the most common snakes of India, L. mili- 

 eus being perhaps the most abundant. The fangs in the front of the jaws admirably 

 adapt this animal for seizing and retaining the small hard-skiinied saurians which 

 form almost its only food. It is a small animal of only about two feet in length. 



The highest family of colubriform ophidians is made up of the wart-snakes, Acro- 

 ceoRDiD^, which are disposed in three genera. Acrochordus javanims has the body 

 covered with small, wart-like, tubercular or spiny scales, no shields on the head, and no 

 specialized ventral scutes; the tail is shoi-t and prehensile; the nostrils close together 

 and at the tip of the snout. It is viviparous, as are the other members of the family, 



