CHAP. XIX.] 



REPTILES. 



379 



and the Indian Peninsula; and Langaha (2 sp.), confined to 

 Madagascar. 



FAMILY 13. DIPSADID^E. (11 Genera, 45 Species.) 

 GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. 



_2.3- -2 1.2.3-1.2.3.4 



The Dipsadidae, or Nocturnal Tree Snakes, are distinguished 

 from the tast family by their dark colours and nocturnal habits. 

 They are about equally abundant in the Oriental and Neotropical 

 regions, less so in the Ethiopian, while only a single species 

 extends to North Australia. The following are the best known 

 genera : 



Dipsas, comprising all the Oriental species, with one in Asia- 

 Minor, and a few from the Moluccas, New Guinea, North Aus- 

 tralia, West Africa, and Tropical America ; Thamnodyastes, 

 Tropidodipsas, and several others, from Tropical America; Dipsa- 

 doboa, from West Africa and Tropical America ; Leptodeira, from 

 Tropical and South Africa, South America, and Mexico ; and 

 Pyihonodipsas, from Central Africa. 



FAMILY 14 SCYTALID^E. (3 Genera, 10 Species.) 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. 



NEOTROPICAL I NEARCTIC I PAL^EARCTIC 

 SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REOUONS. 



ETHIOPIAN 



SUB-RF.GIONS. 



ORIENTAL 



SUB-REGIONS. 



AUSTRALIAN 

 SUB-REGIONS. 



- 2.3- 



It is doubtful how far the three genera which constitute this 

 family form a natural assemblage. We can therefore draw no 

 safe conclusions from the peculiarity of their distribution 

 Scytale and Oxyrhopus being confined to Tropical America ; 

 while Hologerrhum inhabits the Philippine Islands. 



