210 



REPTILES. 



1 1. Brachysoma. A series of smooth teeth behind the fang ; 



habit like in Calamaria ; rostral very large, far produced 

 backwards ; loreal replaced by three shields ; subcaudals 

 two-rowed. Australia. 



12. Elaps. No smooth tooth behind the fang; scales in 



thirteen to fifteen rows ; anal entire. East Indies ; Africa ; 

 South and Central America. 



13. Vermicalla. No smooth teeth behind the fang. Scales 



in fifteen rows ; anal bifid. New Holland. 



1. Glyphodon, Gunther. 



Body and tail moderate, rounded ; form of head as in Ly- 

 codon, depressed, with flat crown and broad muzzle, obtuse in 

 front ; posterior frontal replacing the loreal, in contact with two 

 labials ; one anterior, two posterior oculars ; one or two nasals. 

 Scales smooth, short, large, in fifteen or seventeen rows; anal 

 bifid ; subcaudals two-rowed. Grooved fang in front ; a series of 

 smaller, equal teeth behind. Australia. 



This highly interesting genus is intermediate between Lyeodon 

 and the snakes of this family, agreeing with the former in its 

 physiognomy, with the latter in its dentition. The species ap- 

 pear to be oviparous. 



1. Glyphodon ornatus. 



Elaps ornata, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 55. 



Above brown, each scale with yellowish centre ; beneath 

 uniform whitish. Scales in fifteen rows. 



a. Adult female. Australia. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. 



b, c. Half-grown. N.E. Australia. 



d. Adult. Sine patria. From the Haslar Collection. 



e. Adult. Sine patria. From the Haslar Collection. 



/. Half-grown. W. Australia. Presented by W. Buchanan, Esq. 

 g. Young. N. Australian Expedition. Presented by Dr. J. R. 

 Elsey. 



Description. — Habit, head and physiognomy as in Lyeodon ; 

 body and tail moderate, rounded, tapering behind ; head not 

 very distinct from neck, depressed, with flat crown and broad 

 muzzle, obtuse in front. Rostral shield broad, narrow, rounded 

 behind, not much raised above surface of crown ; anterior 

 frontals broad, short ; posterior ones much larger, bent down 

 on the sides, replacing the loreal, in contact with second and 

 third labials ; vertical five-sided, with such obtuse lateral angles. 



