770 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIX. 



who wrote before Mr. Boulenger's present classification was inaugu- 

 rated, alluded to Dendrelnphis tristis, and Bendrophis pictus as one 

 and the same snake under the latter title, and the confusion did not 

 end here, for every writer since has committed the same mistake. 



I have heard doubts expressed in some quarters as to the justifi- 

 cation for the recognition of the two genera just referred to, but as 

 I have a series of skulls of the types of both. I am in a position to 

 be able not only to affirm that the differences claimed exist, but to 

 add others in support. Mr. Boulenger divided the species on 

 characters affecting the maxillary teeth, grouping together those in 

 which the teeth enlarged posteriorly under the heading Dendrophis, 

 and those in which they reduced posteriori}^ under the title Bendre- 

 t"/>h,is. Figures A and B, taken from the skulls of specimens of 

 both obtained at Pashok in the Eastern Himalayas, illustrate the 

 differences in dentition, but I find in addition that there are decided 

 differences in the shape of the nasal bones, and also in the ridges 

 for muscular attachment on the parietal bones of each (see Diagram 

 and figs. A and B.). The confusion in literature between B. 

 tristis and B. pictus just referred to makes it difficult for me to 

 speak very positively on the distribution of these species, but 1 

 present the facts as they appear to me, with the hope that our 

 readers who are in a position to do so will send me specimens that 

 Mill enable me to confirm or refute them. 



DENDRELAPHIS TRISTIS (Daudin.) 

 The Indian Bronze-Backed Tree Snake. 



History. — The first reference to this snake was made by Russell 

 over a century ago. In 1790* he figured and remarked upon a 

 specimen from Hyderabad (Deccan). In 1801 f he figured and 

 referred to two others from Bombay and Tranquebar. 



Nomenclature. — (a) Scientific. — -The generic name from the Greek 

 Seyopoi a tree, and e\a(j>i$ snake, was introduced by Mr. Boulenger 

 in 1890. Tristis, ihe specific title from the Latin "sad" was 

 conferred by Daudin in 1803 in allusion to its sombre colouration. 



(//) English. — The Common Indian Bronze-Backed Tree Snake 

 or Bronze Back. I have heard it alluded to as the painted tree 

 snake, but since all the species are alike in the caerulean adornment 



* In.l. Serp. Vol. I. p. 36 and Plate XXXI. 



t Vol. II. 14). 29 and 30 and Plates XXV mm! XXVI. 



