a a 
Dr. O. Wucherer on the Ophidians of Bahia. 258 
Of the interesting species Xenodon colubrinus, so well established 
and happily named by Dr. Albert Giinther, I received several live 
specimens from Ilh¢os. Whenirritated, it rapidly strikes the ground 
with its tail—a habit I have also noticed in Spilotes variabilis, 8. 
pecilostoma, S. corais, and in Coryphodon pantherinus. In its 
habits it resembles also XY. rhabdocephalus; but-in the form of its head 
it shows great similarity to the members of the next family—that of 
Colubride. In this species I first noticed a bright white spot or 
groove on the tip of each scale. Recently I have become indebted to 
Dr. A.Giinther’s kindness for a perusalof Prof. Reinhardt’s interesting 
paper on these curious spots or depressions*. Reinhardt discovered 
them during his stay in Brazil, about thirteen years ago, in a living 
specimen of Philodryas Olfersii—a snake which has not yet been 
noticed by me. After his return to Europe he found them in pre- 
served specimens of many other Ophidians, and has tried to vindicate 
for them the importance of a classifying character, which they un- 
doubtedly possess. Reinhardt mentions that these depressions had 
been noticed before by Wagler in species of Xenodon, by Holbrook 
in Coluber alleghaniensis, and by Giinther in West Indian species of 
Dromicus, but that they had been overlooked by other herpetologists. 
In Xenodon colubrinus they are remarkably distinct, clearly perceptible 
with the naked eye; they are circular, and placed very near the tip 
of the scales. 
The family Colubride is represented by two genera in this province 
—Spilotes and Coryphodon. 
Coryphodon pantherinus is exceedingly common. The grooves on 
its seales are double, as in all the other species of this family, with 
the exception of Zamenis Dahlit, Fitz., which, according to Reinhardt, 
has scales with a single groove. Reinhardt, however, observes that 
this Ophidian had been classed by Schlegel with the Psammophide, 
which have scales provided with a single groove. 
Of the genus Spilotes I have noticed 8, corais, S. pecilostoma, and 
S. variabilis. ; 
They are very similar in their habits, very bold; and the most un- 
daunted is perhaps S. corais. It is called by the Brazilians “ Papa- 
pinto,” from its averred predilection for chickens, of which circum- 
stance I have never been able to satisfy myself. It frequents the 
neighbourhood of rivers, where it often strikes terror into the 
black washerwomen occupied at their calling, by approaching and 
running after them, I have been told strange stories about its creep- 
ing on to the beds of sleeping women who nurse, and sucking at their 
breasts. It may be that, like many other reptiles, it is very fond 
of milk; and this may account in part for such tales, which have 
been current in other countries also. S. corais has generally seven- 
teen rows of scales; but I have seen several specimens with only 
fifteen rows. One very large specimen from Caravellas in my 
possession, which measures 8’, has nineteen rows of scales. The 
other two species of Spilotes are both called “ Cainana;” the 
* See p. 255 of our present Number. 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. ix. 18 
