384 LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



The Callophides are claaracterized by the small number of scale rows, there being 

 only thirteen, and by the grooved maxillary fang standing alone. The several species 

 are very similar to one another. The head is of moderate length, and "not separate 

 from the body ; the cleft of the mouth is but little extensible, and the scales of the 

 body are smooth and polished. The genus is restricted to British India, and the 

 members are more abundant on the continent than in the Archipelago. They repre- 

 sent the American Elaps, the African Homorelaps, and the Australian Vermicella. 

 They are thus terrestrial forms, jDreferring the hilly countries to plains, and are of 

 slow and sluggish movement. In their general form they closely resemble the abun- 

 dant Calamaridae, on the members of which genus they chiefly feed ; the venomous 

 reptile being able to overpower the non-venomous. It is a strange fact that the dis- 

 tribution of these two genera is over the same geographical area, and, though both are 

 abundant in India, a specimen of neither genus has ever been found in Ceylon. The 

 sight and hearing of Callophis is extremely defective, making it an easy matter for 

 the collector to secure them. Though they can only be induced to bite after consider- 

 able agitation, they are nevertheless very jDoisonous, and the greatest caution is neces- 

 sary in collecting or handling them. Animals inoculated with the venom have died 

 in from one to two hours, though the small fangs and scanty supply of poison renders 

 it -quite easy, ua case of accident, to prevent any fatal results, provided only that the 

 proper remedies are at hand. 



One of the most beautiful of Australian opliidians is the scarlet-spotted snake J3rci- 

 chysoma diadema. Its general color is brown, each scale having a yellow spot in its cen- 

 tre, and the neck, which is distinctly constricted, is surrounded by a bright scarlet collar. 

 While the scales of this species are disposed in fifteen rows, those of _Z?. triste are in 

 seventeen. The genus Vermicella has the head like Elaps^ and a pair of minute 

 grooved fangs, without any other teeth in the upper jaw. These characteristics con- 

 nect it, as well as allied Australian forms, more intimately with the Elapides of the 

 western than of the eastern hemisphere. V. annulata is called by the native collectors 

 the black-and-white ringed-snake, and inhabits nearly every part of the insular conti- 

 nent. It is at once recognized by the alternate black and white rings, which encircle 

 the body, and by its jJeculiar dentition. 



The arrow-headed Dendraspis, Dendraspis angusticeps, is an inhabitant of South 

 Africa, and is quite abundant at iSTatal. It is long, sometimes reaching six feet, slen- 

 der, very active, and a good climber. Its color is olive brown, with green above and 

 a paler shade below. Much different in form is the death-adder of Australia, known 

 to science as AcanthopJiis antarctica. Its popular name is most characteristic, as it 

 is a very dangerous reptile, being provided with long immovable fangs, and possessing 

 venom of a most dangerous character, though not so virulent as that of the cobras or 

 rattle-snakes. A frog severely bitten by a large death-adder has been known to live 

 more than twelve hours. The peculiar tail, the terminal portion of which is com- 

 pressed, and covered with enlarged scales, the last being formed like a thorn, though 

 it only becomes hard in old individuals, is neither an instrument of offence or defence, 

 though the natives suppose it to be a most effective instrument of death. It is from 

 this peculiar appendage that the generic name has been given. 



The genus Denisonia is peculiar in having — though it is a poisonous snake — a 

 loreal shield, an ornament which is usually characteristic of innocuous ophidians. It 

 is a rare snake, of only ordinary size, inhabiting Queensland. 



The family Hydeophid^, or sea-snakes, includes a group of highly speciaUzed 



