383 



fuincunciatiu (two Ceylonese varieties), Tropidonotut ehrysaroos, 

 Ptuserita mycterizans, Bunganu faseiatus, 



4. The following species are peculiar to Ceylon, bnt representatives 



of the genera are found in other parte of this region :- -Cylindrophis 

 maeulata, Oligodon sublineattu, Cynophis Helena (appears to be the 

 representative of Elaphis subradiatus), Cyclophis calamaria, THpsa- 

 domorphus ceylonensis (is the representative of D. trigonatus), '/'/•/- 

 mesurvs ceylonensis and nigro-marginatus, Megcera trigonocephala, 

 Trigonoeephalus hypnalis, Daboia elegant. 



5. Finally, the following genera, exhibiting entire snbcandal plates, 

 are peculiar to Ceylon : — Aspidura, Haploeercus, Cereaspu. 



If we look at the forms of this region, common with other >, 



we see that most of them belong to the twO genera of Schlegel's Co- 

 luber and Dipsas. The separation of the former into smaller na- 

 tural genera has not yet been effected in such a way as to satisfy the 

 systematist ; and therefore it is the less fit for a consideration of its 

 geographical distribution (genus Zitmenis excepted). Nearly the 

 same is the case with the genus Dipaas ; and even if we separate 

 single forms more aberrant from the general type, there remain a 

 great many species which, comprised in one genus, do not give us 

 the idea of a cosmopolitan genus, but of a " tropicopolitan." Spe- 

 cies of Rhubdoaoma are found in the Neotropical, a single species of 

 Cerberus and Dendropbis in the eastern Palaeotropical region; the 

 geographical distribution of Dryophis and Echia has been stated 

 above. 



I may add a few words to prove what I have before mentioned, viz. 

 that the Snakes of Japan belong to the fauna of the Indian region. 

 The following species are known from these islands * : — 



1. Tropidonotus tigrinus, and 



2. T. Vibahari belong to a cosmopolitan genus ; but the former, 

 being also found near Ningpo in China, belongs to a group of this 

 genus, which is formed solely by natives of India ; and the second 

 species is the single type of another peculiar group (see Catal. of 

 Colubr. p. 60). 



3. Coluber conepicillatus, 



4. E In phis qviirlririnjafus, and 



5. Elaphis virgatus, exhibit not only a remarkable similarity in 

 general habit?, ami in the system of coloration, with other true East 

 Indian Snakes (Elaphis subradiatus, &c), but the two latter are also 

 found on the Indian continent, in China, south of the Yellow River. 



o. Trigonoeephalus Blomhoffii belongs to a genua with four species 

 in the Kast Indies and one in the northern parts of Asia. 



How greatly different the view gained by a consideration <<t the 

 geographical distribution of the Batrachians i-, we -hall see in the 

 Second Part of this paper. Our knowledge of the Herpetologj oi 



Celebes is vet too limited to allow a satisfactory attempt to compare 



its fauna with that of other part-. 



* If. Schlege), ' Paona Japoniea ' — " Reptile*." 



