1898.] A. Alcock — Carcinological Fauna of India. 67 



a few hours afterwards, I removed a tooth rather over ^ inch longr 

 from the puncture in the lower eyelid. This, however, after being 

 examined under the microscope by Dr. Alcock and myself, proved not 

 to be a grooved one, so that this little experience throws no light on the 

 possible effects of Dryophis fangs on the human subject; I think, 

 however, that it may be fairly allowed, in connection with the belief above 

 mentioned, to upset the reputation for gentleness which Dr. Boulenger 

 awards to the species.* I may say that I was not holding the snake 

 roughly or maltreating it in any way, and that when confined afterwards 

 in a glass case it repeatedly struck at anyone who came near, seeming 

 to aim particularly at the face, though it soon recognized, apparently, 

 the futility of attacking glass. 



This intelligence in attack was again shown subsequently, when, 

 having transferred the snake to a large cage of wire gauze, I endeavour- 

 ed to make it attack a Gecko. This it would not do even when the 

 lizard was thrown absolutely in its face, darting open-mouthed at me 

 instead. It similarly refused to bite a handkerchief with which I 

 teased it, though I have succeeded in getting Bendrophis pictus (a 

 black Andaman variety) to do this. 



Materials for a Carcinological Fauna of India. No. 3. The Brachyura 

 Cyclometopa. Part I. The Family Xanthidse. — By A. Alcock, M.B., 

 C.M.Z.S., Superintendent of the Indian Museum. 



[Received 20th March. Eead 6th April, 1898.] 



The family Xanthidse, as here defined, includes the Cancridse (with- 

 out Cancer and Birimela) and the Eriphiidse (without Oethra) of Dana's 

 system. 



It is a family which, as most authors have remarked, it is almost 

 impossible to divide into groups that shall be at once natural and 

 sharply defined, owing to the numerous intergradations of form that 

 exist. 



The Indian species of this family, so far as I have been able to 

 discover, number 153, of which all but the following 14 are represented 

 in the Indian Museum : — 



Carpilodes venosus Edw., Carpilodes margaritatus A. M. Edw., 

 Lachnopodus rodyersi Stimpson, Lophactsea flssa Henderson, Lophozozymus 



* I hope this will not be taken as captious criticism of Dr. Bonlenger's work, 

 for which I entertain the sincerest admiration, especially since I know that gentle- 

 man to be in the habit of studying reptiles in life when opportunity offers. 



F. F. 



