254 Zoological Society. 
grooves on their scales differ from those of S. corais in being 
larger and oblong or elliptical. I was on the point of referring a 
specimen of S. corais, with fifteen rows of scales, to Herpetodryas 
dendrophis, on account of the slender form of its head ; but the pre- 
sence of the two depressions on each of its scales assisted me in its 
correct determination. With regard to S. variabilis, I must state 
that the specimens examined by me, which were all adults, had no 
loreal shield. 
The Dryadide I have met with belong to two genera, Herpeto- 
dryas and Philodryas. Herpetodryas carinatus is one of the most 
common snakes in this province. The Brazilians call it, as well as 
all the other slender species of snakes, ‘‘ Cipo,”’ which signifies the 
stem or a stick of acreeping-plant. Before I had read Schlegel’s 
‘ Essay,’ I referred all the specimens of Herpetodryas in which I did 
not detect any keeled scales to H. fuscus, this being the only distine- 
tive character given in Giinther’s Catalogue. When I found that 
Schlegel had not admitted H. fuscus as a separate species, I sub- 
mitted all my specimens (several dozens) to a closer examination, and 
found that there was not a single one in which at least very slight 
traces of keels were not to be found in some scales ; so that I feel in- 
clined to follow Schlegel, and to consider my specimens as belonging 
to one species. According to Reinhardt, the scales of Herpetodryas 
carinatus are without any groove,—an observation with which I 
cannot agree, having found grooved scales in all my specimens. In 
some specimens they were found, indeed, only on a few scales. of 
the neck near the head ; others had them on the two middle rows of 
keeled scales. The occurrence of these grooves in Herpetodryas* is 
very interesting, particularly because they are single, and not double 
as is generally the case in keeled scales. They are placed near to 
the inner edge, and at the point of junction of the distal with the 
middle third of the scale. They are proportionately smaller in 
larger specimens. The largest specimen noticed by me is 5 feet 
7 inches long. 
Philodryas viridissimus is not quite so common as the last species. 
The largest specimen I have seen measured 4 feet. Reinhardt found 
two grooves in the scales of this snake. After a careful search, I 
cannot find more than one groove at the tip of the scales. Some 
scales on the tail have certainly two grooves, evidently in consequence 
of the confluence of two scales. 
Philodryas Schottii—I obtained a single specimen in a bad 
state. 
Of the family of Dendrophide I have seen a single specimen of 
Ahetulla liocerca}: it must be a very beautiful snake. It is said 
to be exceedingly lively ; and this, with its proportionately long 
teeth, may be the cause of its being considered dangerous by the 
Brazilians. 
* T have examined several specimens of this species : I was unable to find these 
grooves in H. carinatus; one specimen of H. fuscus showed a single groove on a 
few scales on the neck.—A. G. 
+ I received it from Mr. Christopher Gayleard, whose unceasing kindness in 
assisting me to collect specimens I am happy to acknowledge. 
