4 Col. R. H. Becldome on the 



turning over logs and large stones in the forests, and even on 

 the grass-land at high elevations, and during the rainy season 

 they are not unfrequently found about the roads. They are 

 generally of small size, about 1 foot long, with a girth of 

 scarcely 1 inch ; the maximum length as yet known is 24 

 inches (a sjDCcimen of Silyhura grandis)^ the maximum girth 

 3 inches [Uropeltis grandis). They never attempt to bite, 

 however much they may be handled or teased ; they will at 

 once twine themselves tightly round a stick, and can be carried 

 along without their attempting to escape. They are all ovo- 

 viparous ; they live almost entirely upon earth-worms. The 

 eye is generally exceedingly small and lies well within the 

 margin of the ocular shield (which is formed by the confluence 

 of the supraorbital and postocular) ; it is only in Flatyplectrurus 

 that the eye can be said to be distinct and to have a post- 

 ocular as Vv^ell as a supraorbital, for, although there is a supra- 

 orbital in Plectrurus and in Teretrurus^ the ocular shield is 

 more or less produced round and underneath the eye, and 

 cannot be strictly called a postocular. Melanophidium shows 

 an approach to the Calamaridai in the longitudinal fold at the 

 chin, and PJatyj)lectrurus shows a still nearer approach in its 

 broad head, the situation of the eye, and the arrangement of the 

 surrounding shields, so that the tribe Uropeltida3 will probably 

 not be allowed to stand unless it be only for the genera with 

 the truncated tail. Many of the species are beautifully 

 coloured with red and yellow when alive ; the yellow 

 colour always, and the red sometimes, fades to white in spirits. 

 Green and blue colours are never present, but many of the 

 species, particularly of the genus Melanoplndium^ have a most 

 lovely iridescence when held in a certain light, and the violet 

 and blue tints are very beautiful. 



I have had many of the commoner species for long periods 

 in captivity in boxes of earth, feeding them on earth-worms ; 

 but I have never known them to breed in captivity. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 

 Tail truncated. 



The caudal shield rounded, scaleless, the caudal 



scales generally smooth RniNorHis. 



The caudal shield large, flat, scaleless Uropeltis. 



The terminal scute square at the end or bicuspid, 

 the points side b}' side ; the caudal scales 



generally strongly keeled Silybura. 



The terminal scute vertically compressed, the 



points superposed Plecirurus. 



Tail tapering. 



The terminal scute a single sharp point ; no 



median grt)ove along the chin Teretrurus. 



