INTEODtJCTION. 



This concluding volume of the Catalogue of Snakes, contains the 

 descriptions of 689 species, 564 of which are represented in the 

 Collection, and the enumeration of 5230 specimens. 



The total number of recognized species of Ophidians now amounts 

 to 1639. Dumeril & Bibron's 'Erpetologie Generale' (1854) registers 

 531; Gray and Giinther's Catalogues (1849-68) 544;, and 789 

 (including numerous nomina nuda) are enumerated in Jan's 

 ' Elenco ' (1863). 



The amalgamated index to the three volumes, which is appended, 

 contains 7335 names, thus showing the enormous extent of the 

 synonymy. 



With this volume the revision of the entire Herpetological 

 Collection in the British Museum is brought to a close, a work 

 the publication of which has extended over fourteen years. The 

 whole series of Catalogues, consisting of nine Volumes — two of 

 Batrachians (1882), three of Lizards (1885-87), one of Rhyncho- 

 cephalians, Chelonians, and Crocodiles (1889), and three of Snakes 

 (1893-96) — deals with 4,413 species and 28,642 specimens. But 

 the numerous additions to the Collection and to the Literature, 

 made since the appearance of the earlier volumes, raise these 

 numbers as follows : — 



