Mr. Bell on Leptophina. 323 



ordinary size of the head, the width of gape, and the great dila- 

 tibility of the neck and body enable them to swallow, notwith- 

 standing the small size of these parts in a state of rest : in a 

 specimen in my possession of D. auratusiov instance, the length 

 of which is four feet nine inches, the diameter of the neck is 

 barely two lines. When the skin is distended either by food, 

 or during inspiration, the scales are separated from each other, 

 and the skin, which is of a diiFerent colour, becomes visible va. 

 the interstices, producing a curious reticulated appearance. 



Notwithstanding the poisonous mark was affixed by Linnasus 

 to the only species of Dryinus known to him, (Coluber mycteri- 

 zans L.), it is well ascertained that they are all of them per- 

 fectly harmless, and it is asserted of that species that the chil- 

 dren are in the habit of taming and playing with them, twining 

 them round their neck and arms, and that the snakes appear 

 pleased at being thus caressed. 



In their general characters, the two genera composing this 

 group are very closely allied. The body is extremely long in 

 proportion to its breadth, — the tail more than half, and in some 

 species, nearly equalling the length of the body, — the head broad 

 and long, covered, as in the other Colubridce, with nine scuta, 

 which however do not extend so far back as in the rest of the 

 family. The hinder part of the head is covered with numerous 

 very small scales. The scales of the back are of an elongated 

 oval form, those on the spine, in some species, broader and some- 

 what rhomboidal, which is also the case with the lateral row 

 immediately above the abdominal scuta. The scuta of the belly 

 are almost as * long as they are broad. Those of the tail nume- 

 rous, closely attached, and from the attenuated form of that part, 

 difficult to be distinguished. 



The principal difference between the two genera consists in 

 the form of the rostrum. In Dryinus the upper jaw projects far 

 beyond the lower; and is considerably attenuated towards the 

 apex, which in some species is distinctly mucronate, turned up and 



* I consider the length of the scuta, their diameter from the anterior to the 

 posterior margin : the breadth, across the abdomen. 



X 2 



