2556 



SCALED REPTILES 



rocks, and they will also burrow in the sand. They are perfectly harmless, and 

 generally make no attempt to bite; but they are somewhat unsatisfactory creatures 

 in captivity, owing to their habit of lying concealed among the gravel of their cage. 

 The Indian species is frequently carried about by snake charmers, who are in the 

 habit of mutilating the short tail so as to make it look like a head; whence arises 

 the legend of two-headed snakes. A second Indian species (E. conicus} was 

 formerly referred to a separate genus (Gongylophis) , on account of having a series 

 of keeled scales between the eyes. 



Allied Genera 



EGYPTIAN SAND SNAKE. 



(One-half natural size.) 



Of the remaining members of the family, Lichanura, with one 

 Calif ornian species, differs from the sand snakes by the smaller size 

 of the rostral shield, which is longer than wide; while Charina, which is likewise 

 Californian, has the head covered with large shields. On the other hand, Bolieria, 

 as represented by a single species from Round island, near Mauritius, differs from 

 all the other members of the group in having three or four keels on the scales, the 

 muzzle being covered with large shields. 



In this place may be noticed certain gigantic snakes from the lower and middle 

 Eocene rocks of Europe, described under the name of Palceophis, and represented 



