CHAP. XI.] THE ETHIOPIAN 1;EGI0N. 279 



the right hand corner is the Leptosoma ducvl(>r, a bird mIucii 

 ■appears to be intermediate between sncli very distinct families 

 as the cnchoos and the rollers, and is therefore considered to 

 form a family by itself It is a coppery -green above and nearly 

 white beneath, with a 1):ack bill and red feet. The fan-shaped 

 plant on the left is the traveller's tree {Urania spcciosn), one of 

 the peculiar forms of vegetation in this marvellous island. 



Eeptilcs. — These present some very curious features, com])ara- 

 tively few of the African groups being represented, while there 

 are a considerable number of Eastern and even of American 

 forms. Beginning with the snakes, we find, in the enormous 

 family of Colubrida^, none of the African types ; but instead of 

 them three genera — Herpctodryas, Phihdryas, and Hctcrodov— 

 only found elsewhere in South and North America. The 

 Psammophidte, which are both African and Indian, are repre- 

 sented by a peculiar genus, Mimophis. The Dendrophidie are 

 , represented by Ahaiul/a, a genus which is both African and 

 American. The Dryiophidse, which inhabit all the tropics but 

 are most developed in the Oriental region, are represented by 

 a peculiar genus, Langalut. The tropical Pythonidie are repre- 

 sented by another peculiar genus, Sandnia. The Lycodontidai 

 and Yiperidte, so well developed in Africa, are entirely absent. 



The lizards are no less remarkable. The Zonuridje, abun- 

 dantly developed in Africa, are represented by one peculiar 

 genus, Cicigna. The wide-spread Scincidne by another p(.'cidiar 

 genus, Pygomdcs. The African Sepsidas, are represented by three 

 genera, two of which are African, and one, Amphiglossus, peculiar. 

 The Acontiadaj are represented by a species of the African genus 

 Acoviias. Of Scincidfe there is the ^vide-spreRd EtijjrqKs. Tlio 

 Sepidic are rejiresented by the African genera Sips and Scclot.cs. 

 The Geckotidae are not represented by any purely African 

 genera, but by Phyllodadylns, which is American and Aus- 

 tralian ; Hcmidadylus, which is s]»read over all the tropics; by 

 two peculiar genera ; and by Uroplafis, GcrkoIcjHs, and Plirhnma, 

 confined to Madagascar, Bourbon, and the Andaman Islands. 

 The Agami(la% which are mostly Oi'iental and arc rejiresented in 



