53 



11. NON-VENOMOUS SERPENTS. 



I. — Non-Venomoiis Serpents, with sub-caudal bifid plates or scutella. 



Family. COLUBEROIDEA. 



CHARACTERS. 



The individuals of this family have all the general and particular characters 

 given above, as appertaining to the order Ophidia, and family Serpentes, or true 

 Serpents; — as superior, maxillary, and palate bones armed with teeth disposed in 

 four rows; jaws dilatable, &c. dzc. And in addition to these — 



1. The head is covered with plates. 



2. The body is much elongated, covered above with scales, and with plates 

 below. 



3. The tail is in general very long, with bifid plates below, or scutella, as they 



are frequently termed. 



4. There is no hook near the vent, nor any rudiment of posterior extremities, as 



in Boa and other non-venomous serpents. 



Remarks. The members of this family are exceedingly numerous, and though 

 they differ from each other in several respects, yet they have so many characters 



V. 3—7* 



