280 CLASS REPTILIA. 



almost all their scales small. Daudin has subdivided 

 them as follows — 



The Hydrophis, Hydrus, Schn. in par., 



Have under the belly, like tortrix and erpeton, a 

 range of scales a little larger than the others. Their 

 head is small, not swelled, obtuse, and furnished 

 with large plates. Some species have been found 

 in the salt-water canals of Bengal, and others farther 

 on in the Indian sea.* 



The Pelamides 



Have also large plates upon the head, but their 

 occiput is swelled in consequence of the length of 

 the pedicles of their lower jaw, which is very dilata- 

 ble, and all the scales of their body are equal, 

 small, and disposed like hexagonal pavement. 



The species most known, (^Anguis Platurus, Lin. ; 

 Hydrus Sicolor, Schn.) Seb. II. Ixxvii. 2, Russel, xli., 



* Hydrophis, water serpent. See the hydrophis of Russel, serpents of 

 Corom. pi. xliv. and II. part, pi. vi. x. Add, Hydrus Curtus, Sh., Hydrus 

 Spiralis, id. pi. 125. Leyoselasme and ZJis^eyre, Lacep. Ann. Mus. IV., 

 also come in the subgenus hydrophis; I even believe that this last is the 

 Hydrus Major, ^h. \)\. 124. There are also serpents of the Indian sea 

 venomous, and with several maxillary teeth. 



N.B I do not find, like M. Fitzinger, that the Pelamides and Disteyres 

 are harmless. I am assured, on the contrary, that their poisonous gland 

 and fangs are constituted like as in the hydras and bungari. As to the 

 Aispysure, Lacep. An. Mus. IV., I have never met with it, nor can I 

 verify what it is. 



