•^7^ ' CLASS REPTILIA. 



end of its muzzle is black. It belongs to Guiana, 

 where it is very much dreaded, and where it also 

 causes to be feared, the Tortrix Scytale and Coluber 

 Esculapiii because, though perfectly harmless, they 

 resemble it in form, size, and colours. There are, 

 besides, many elaps, in both continents, whose 

 colours are distributed pretty nearly in the same 

 manner.* 



The MiCRURi, Wagler, 

 Are elaps, with the tail very short. 



The Platuri, Latreille, 



Have also the head enveloped with plates, and 

 double plates under the tail ; but this tail is com- 

 pressed in the form of an oar, which constitutes 

 them aquatic serpents.t 



Finally, at the sequel of the vipers should be 

 placed some serpents which do not differ from them, 

 but because their subcaudal plates are simple, in 

 whole, or in part. They are distinguished from 



* Such are Elaps Anguiformis, Schn. ; Vipere Psyche, Daud. VIII. c. 1.; 

 Col. Lacteus, Lin. Mus. ad. Fr. xvii. 1 ; and better, Seb. II. xxxv. 2 ; El. 

 Nob, Surinamensis, Seb. II. vi. 2 and Ixxxvi. 1 ; Col. Latonius, Merr. I. ii. ; 

 and Seb. II. xxxiv, 4: and xliii. 5, the same as Col. Lubricus ; Col. Fla- 

 vins, &c. 



■f Col. Laticandatus, L., or Hydrus Colubrinus, Sh. Daud. VII. Ixxxv. 



