38o MEMOIR on AMPHIBIA. . 



The Amphijbenes (amphifbEcnsc), whofe body and tail are 

 coTcred with circular fcaly rings. 



The Cceciks (caeciliac), the icales of whofe body are in 

 folds. 



The luingaha (langaha), which have large fcales under 

 the belly, annular fcales near the anus, and very fmall 

 fcales under the tail. 



Laflly, the Acrochordes (acrochordes), whofe belly and 

 tail are furnifhed with little tubercles. 



After this diftribution, it appears that the viper, atropos, 

 ammodytes, and feveral which have fangs, and are poifon- 

 ous, are confounded with the Coluburs, properly fo called, 

 which are not fupplied with this fpecies of teeth, and 

 which arc all harmlefs. It feems therefore natural to make 

 a divifion of this genus already too numerous. 



The genus boa offers another confufion which might be 

 avoided. The greater part of ferpents of this fpecies are 

 without teeth. There is moreover in America a non-de- 

 fcript ferpent (the mokafon) which according to the fcales 

 under its belly and tail, ought to be arranged among the 

 boas. This fpecies however have not only teeth, but the 

 extremities of their jaws are furnifhed with fangs like the 

 boiquira. 



For thefe reafons I think * the genus coluber ought to 

 be divided into 



Vipers (Vipera), whofe charadlers would be large plates 

 or fcales under the belly. Two rows of imbricated fcales 

 under the tail. The extremity of the upper jaw on each 

 fide furnifhed with a hollow fang or canine tooth. 

 Venomous. 



(Coluber) 



• There is another confideration in favour of this change. It is tliat all 

 fanged ferpents, at leaft all which I have had occafion to fee, appear to me 

 certainly viviparous : perhaps the colubres, properly fo cited, are all ovipa-. 

 rous,. This is another frtil relating to theXc reptiles very important to afcer-. 

 tein. 



