82 REPTILES. 
Fam. IV. Borpaz. 
The ventral shields narrow (except in Bolyeria), transverse, 
band-like, often six-sided ; the hinder limbs developed under the 
skin, formed of several bones and ending in an exserted horny spur, 
placed one on each side of the vent. Tail short, generally prehen- 
sile. The pupil oblong, erect, except in Tortria. 
They live in marshy places: fixing themselves by the tail to 
some aquatic tree, they allow themselves to float, and thus entrap 
the animals which come to drink: they kill their prey by pressure. 
The spurs were first noticed by Dr. P. Browne (Hist. Jam. 1789, 
461). Schneider (Hist. Amph.) again observed them in 1792, and 
Dr. Russell figured them in 1795. 
Constrictores and Anguiformes pars, Oppell, Rept. 1811. Co- 
lubrini pars, Bote, Isis, xx. 510, 1827. Boide, Gray, Ann. Phil. 
1825, 209. Zool. Misc. 41,1840. Boide and Erycide, Bonap. 
Acad. Roy. Turin, 1840. Ilysioidea and Pythonoidea, Fitz. N. 
Class. Rept. 26, 27, 1826. Serp. Macrostomata, Isodonta, and part 
Holodonta, Muller, in Tiedem & Treviran. Zeitsch. fur Phys. 1832, 
iv. 263. Serp. Phenopodes, Meyer. Ophidiens azemiophides, ou 
Serpents non Vénéneux Auriformes ou Pythoniens, Dumeril § Bib. 
Erp. Gen. vi. 337, 380. | Colubrinia aplepia, Rafin. Anal. Nat. 77, 
1815. Fam. Boas, Schlegel, Phys. Serp. Saurophidia pars, fam. 
Cylindrophes, Gongylophes, Centrophes and Pythophes, Fitz. Syst. 
Rept. 14, 1846. 
Synopsis of the Genera. 
I. Tail prehensile, strong. Head distinct : muzzle truncated. 
A. Subcaudal plate two-rowed ; intermasxillary or incisive teeth dis- 
tinct ; superciliary bone distinct. Old World. Pythonina. 
1. Moretia. Upper and lower labial shields deeply pitted ; muz- 
zle with symmetrical shields. 
2. Pyrnon. Upper and lower labial shields deeply pitted; muz- 
zle and forehead with symmetrical shields; nostrils vertical. 
3. Horruria. Upper and lower labial shields deeply pitted ; 
muzzle and forehead with symmetrical shields ; nostrils late- 
ral. 
