1863.] dr. o. wucherek on the ophidians of bahia. ' 55; 



4. On the Ophidians of the Province of Bahia, Brazil. 

 By Dr. Otho Wucherer, Corr. Memb. (Part III.*) 



The Dryadidse which I have here heen able to obtain belong to 

 two genera — Herpetodryas and Philodrijasf. The specimens of 

 Herpetodryas were in very considerable number, but I am disposed 

 to consider them all belonging to H. carinatus. They showed many 

 varieties as regards their scales ; some appeared to possess no keels 

 at all, indeed the keel was almost eiFaced, and barely perceptible, on 

 very close inspection, in a few only of the scales. But these speci- 

 mens agreed in every other respect so much with undoubted speci- 

 mens of H. carinatus that I could not help considering them spe- 

 cifically the same, and supposing Schlegel was right in not regarding 

 H. fuscus as a species. //. carinatus is one of the few Snakes pos- 

 sessing the peculiarity pointed out by Reinhardt, that, though they 

 have keeled scales, these have but one groove at the tip. The groove 

 is often very indistinct in H. carinatus, and to be found only on 

 some of the scales of the neck. 



Of the genus Philodryas I have seen two species — Philodryas 

 reinhardtii and P. olfersii. Of these, the former is by far the most 

 common in our neighbourhood. Soon after my attention was drawn 

 to the small grooves on the scales, I found that all my specimens of 

 P. viridissimus had but one groove on each scale. I therefore thought 

 Reinhardt was wrong in stating this Snake to have two grooves, 

 until Dr. Giinther showed that there were two species comprehended 

 under the name P. viridissimus, to the one of which with two grooves 

 he has left the name viridissimus (Surinam), establishing the other 

 with one groove as a new species — P. reinhardtii (Brazil). 



Of P. olfersii I have seen about half-a-dozen specimens. One 

 was sent to me lately from Rio de Janeiro, the rest were from this 

 province. 



Of the family Dendrophidse a single species, Jhcetulla liocerca, 

 has come to my notice, but in few specimens. One was sent to 

 me from Rio de Janeiro ; when alive, it is a very beautiful animal. 



The family of Dryiophidae is represented in this province by two 

 species of the genus Dryiophis — D. argentea and D, acuminata, of 

 which the former seems to be very scarce, whereas the latter is ex- 

 ceedingly common. I have nothing to add to what is already known 

 of these animals. I have repeatedly tried to keep live specimens in 

 confinement, but they all soon perished, after incessant disquietude, 

 without ever taking food of any kind. 



The Brazilian Dipsadidse are all, as far as I have been able to 

 ascertain, of nocturnal habits. During the day, specimens are found 

 only in dark, sheltered places ; at night they are frequently met with 

 abroad. A specimen of Leptodeira anmdata, which I kept for a 

 long time in confinement, was never visible during the day, being 

 hid in a crevice of its cage, but soon after sunset it became very 

 lively. I never saw it take any food ; and it died after several 



* SeeP. Z. S. 1861, pp. 113,322. 



t [To these we may now add the genus Bromicui ; see page 56. — A. G.] 



