CALAMABTA. 



281 



c'. A single internasal; nostril in a 



semidivided nasal HELICOPS, p. 352. 



6. Maxillary teeth subequal ; nostril in a 



single nasal XENOCHBOPHIS, p. 353. 



Fig. 88. Scaling of body of Dendrophis pictiis, showing the enlarged verte- 

 bral scales (8), the apical pit* on the oblique dorsal scales, and the lateral 

 keel along the ventral shields (i-). 



Genus CALAMARIA, 

 Boie, Isis, 1827, p. 519. 



Maxillary teeth 8 to 11, subequal; anterior mandibular teeth a 

 little longer than the posterior. Head not distinct from neck ; 



Fig. 89. Head of Calamaria pavimentata. 



eye small, with round pupil ; nostril pierced in a very small nasal ; 

 no loreal ; no internasals ; prseocular present or absent ; no 



* The apical pit is a minute impression near the extremity of the scale ; 

 these pits may be disposed in pairs. The character derived from the presence 

 or absence of the apical pits appears to me of about the same systematic import- 

 ance as the presence or absence of a keel on the dorsal scales, or the division 

 or non-division of the subcaudal shields. In some cases it may aid in defining 

 a natural genus, in others it breaks down as a generic character. 



