822 ME. G. S. WEST ON THE BUCCAL GLAKDS AND [NoV. 19, 



the poison-gland. Anteriorly, however, it is greatly developed, 

 and immediately below the nostril is of considerable bulk, sending 

 off an upward prolongation anterior to that opening. 



The poison-gland is elliptical in form, is posterior to and some- 

 what remote from the eye, and sends off anteriorly a horizontal 

 duct (PI. XL VI. fig. 2). 



The Harderian gland (PI. XL VI. fig. 19) is indistinctly divided 

 into two lobes ; the anterior one is the larger and forms a socket 

 for the eye, the posterior one is entirely buried in the muscles and 

 is not visible externally. The eyes in this family of Snakes are 

 comparatively small, with small round pupils, and the orbit is 

 filled up to a great extent by the Harderian gland. 



The inferior labial gland is elongated and lies along the mandible 

 external to the teeth. 



The maxilla (PI. XLVI. fig. 9) is short, reaching but a little way 

 in front of the eye. At the anterior end it is transversely enlarged 

 and bears two "large grooved fangs placed almost side bj"" side, 

 one — the slightly posterior one — being external to the other. 

 They are but slightly curved and are inserted so as to point almost 

 directly backwards. After a considerable interspace there are 5 

 more small solid teeth placed close together, the last one being at 

 the extreme posterior end of the maxilla. In transverse sections 

 of the grooved teeth they are seen to possess at the extreme end 

 an anterior cutting-edge (PI. XLVI. fig. 22). This m as present 

 only in this genus amongst those examined, the tooth at the apex 

 being compressed laterally or in a direction at right angles to 

 that in the case of Platurus. 



There are 10 mandibular teeth of approximately equal size, the 

 anterior three being slightly further apart than the other seven. 



Genus Platueus. 



Species examined : — P. fasciatus. 



The superior labial gland tapers behind as in Enhydris, but does 

 not reach quite so far back. 



The poison-gland is narrower and more elongated than in the 

 former genus, and has a posterior downwardly curved portion not 

 present in any of the other genera examined (PI. XLVI. fig. 4). 



The Harderian gland forms a socket for the eye here also, the 

 optic nerve passing through the postero-internal lobe of the gland 

 (PI. XLVI. fig. 18). 



The inferior labial gland is shorter and more robust than in 

 Enhydris. 



The maxilla is extremely short and comparable to that oE an 

 Elapine Snake (PI. XLVI. figs. 11 and 12). It is of a very peculiar 

 form, and the two grooved fangs are situated side by side on its 

 ventro-anterior edge. These teeth are large, and at about half 

 their length are bent somewhat suddenly ; they are very sharp 

 and of a somewhat pecuUar form. "When viewed from below they 

 are seen to suddenly taper to an acute point near to the apex, the 

 margins of the tooth being up to this almost parallel. When 



