CHAP. XIX.] 



REPTILES. 



381 



Asthenodipsas (1 sp.), Malacca ; Leptognatlivs (6 sp.), Central and 

 Soutli America; and Anoplodij)sas (1 sp.), supposed to come 

 from New Caledonia, and, if so, furnishing a link, though a very- 

 imperfect one, between tlie disconnected halves of the family. 



Family 17.— PYTHONID^.. (21 Genera, 40 Species.) 



General Di>>THiBU'rioN. 



The Pythonidfp, comprising the Pock Snakes, Pythons, and 

 Boas, are confined to the tropics, with the exception of one 

 species in California. They are very abundant in the Neotropical 

 region, where nearly lialf the known species occur ; the Austra- 

 lian region comes next, while the Oriental is the least prolific in 

 these large serpents. Tlie genera which have been described 

 are very numerous, but they are by no means well defined. 

 The following are the most important : — 



Pi/thon is confined to the Oriental region ; Morclia, Liasis, and 

 Nardoa are Australian and Papuan ; Enygrus is found in the 

 Moluccas, New Guinea and the Fiji Islands ; Hortulia is African ; 

 Sanzinia is peculiar to ]\Iadagascar ; Boa, Epicrates, Corallus, 

 JJngalia, and Eanedes are Tropical American ; Chilcdiothrus is 

 peculiar to Jamaica and Mexico ; and Liclianotus to California. 



An extinct species belonging to this family has been found 

 in the Brown -coal formation of Germany, of Miocene age. 



Family 18.— EPYCIDJ^. (3 Genera, 6 Species.) 



General Distribtttion. 



Neotropical 

 scb-begion.s. 



Nearctic 

 Sub-regions. 



Pal.earctic 

 Sub-regions. 



Ethiopian 

 Sub-regions. 



Oriental 

 Sub- regions. 



Australian 

 Sub-regions. 



