SNAKES. 63 
1820. Homalopsis sp., Schlegel, Phys. Serp. 359. Herpeton, 
Wagler, Syst. Amph. 169. 
; 1. The Erperon. LErpeton tentaculatus, Lacep. Ann. Mus. 
ii. t. 50. Latr. Rept. iv. 198. Bote, Isis, 1827, 511. Daud. Rept. 
vii. 246, ¢.86. Guerin, Icon. Rept. t. 20, f. 3. Rhinopirus Erpe- 
ton, Merrem, Tent. 12. Homalopsis Herpeton, Schlegel, Phys. Serp. 
359. Abbild. 50, t. 16. 
Pale brown, with the whitish streaks continued on the tail. 
Inhabits >? Mus. Paris; from the old Dutch collection. 
B. Head shielded. Tail with two series of shields beneath. Nostrils 
superior, between two plates. Abdominal shields broad, keeled on 
each side: scales smooth. Bitiana. 
15. Brita. 
Head small; crown shielded: frontal plates 3; anterior be- 
tween the two larger nasal plates; posterior very small, rudimen- 
tary: upper nasal scale the smallest, at the upper hinder angle of 
the larger ones: vertebral plate longitudinal, rather larger than 
the rather narrow superciliary shields: occipital plates trigonal, 
placed in pairs; one triangular rather large loreal; one high 
band-like anterior and a larger inferior and small superior pos- 
terior ocular: front upper labial shields moderate, hinder very 
large: body elongate, slender, rather compressed: dorsal scales 
-smooth: ventral shields keeled on each side: tail short, conical, 
subtrigonal, end compressed, sharp-edged above. 
1. The Britta. Bitia hydroides. 
Lead-coloured in spirits, with broad blackish cross-bands : 
head blackish ; throat and beneath whitish. 
2 
a. In spirits. 
C. Tail with two series of shields beneath. Nostrils in centre of a 
large nasal shield, with a groove from their outer end to the outer 
side of the shield. Ventral shield broad, rounded. Frontal 
shields 3, or rarely 2 or 4, small ; anterior one sometimes divided ; 
generally one anterior and two posterior oculars. Scales, when 
nearly dry, often minutely longitudinally grooved. Cerberina. 
a. Crown scaly ; occipitals rudimentary ; frontals 4, anterior very 
small, 
16. CERBERUS. 
Head dilated behind ; crown scaly ; face shielded to the eyes: 
anterior frontal small; superciliary small; vertical rudimentary 
G2 
