2fi6 SNAKES OF CBYLOiS. 



Sub-family 5 Dipsadomorphiinx. 



(Named from the type genus Dipsadomorphus.) 



General Characters (from Indian species). — Head small 

 to moderate, elongate or broad. Snout short, moderate, or 

 long, with or without canthus, with or without a pointed 

 rostral appendage. Eye moderate to large ; the pupil round, 

 horizontal, or vertical. Nostril lateral, small, or moderate. 

 Neck moderately or strongly constricted. Body short, 

 moderate, or elongate ; cylindrical or compressed. Belly 

 rounded or keeled. Tail short, moderate, or long. 



Habits. — Terrestrial or arboreal. Active. 



Food. — Mammals, birds, reptiles, batrachians. 



Breeding. — Oviparous or viviparous. 



Poison. — Feebly poisonous, the bite producing at the 

 worst some trivial local eSeets and no constitutional symp- 

 toms. 



Lepidosis. — Head covered with large shields, conforming to 

 the Colubrine type. Loreal : Usually present. Sublinguals : 

 Two pairs. 



Costals : Longer than broad ; rectiform or some of the 

 lateral rows oblique ; with or without apical pits ; keeled or 

 smooth. Vetebrals enlarged or not. Ventrals : Rounded or 

 keeled. Aiial : Entire or divided. Subcaudals : Divided. 



Dentition. — Maxillary: Opisthoglyphous ; isodont oraniso- 

 dont ; syncranterian or diacrantorian ; anododont, oinododont 

 or dinododont ; kumatodont or ooryphcdont. Palatine : 

 Isodont or scaphiodont. Pterygoid : Isodont or scaphiodont. 

 Mandibular : Isodont or anisodont ; anododont, oinododont, 

 or dinododont ; scaphiodont. 



Distribution. — Europe, Africa, America, Asia to the Philip- 

 pines. 



Of the many genera five are represented within Indian 

 limits, and three in Ceylon. 



