ERYCIDA. 48 
Abdominal scuta 265, subcaudal squame 86, subcaudal scuta 28, sub- 
caudal squame 3 = 67 = 332. Length 47 10/’; diameter nearly 2//; 
tail round, short, 73’ long, pointed. Head a little broader than the 
neck, compressed, very obtuse; occiput covered with smull ovate scales, 
ten laminaw; mouth wide, jaws of equal length; three rows of tecth in 
the upper jaw, those in lower jaw very long and large; eyes large, 
lateral ; nostrils close together ; ¢-wmk round, covered with small, smooth, 
ovate scales, closely imbricate; on each side of the scuta are two rows 
of larger ones; scuta remarkably short; on each side of the anus is a 
horny spur, about } of an inch long (like the Pedda Poda, No. 11). The 
scuta at the end of the tail are singular. (%/ur: brown predominates ; 
all along the back are large, roundish spots, light brown in the centre, 
edges yellowish brown; sides are variegated by brown spots on a whitish 
ground, which brightens near the belly ; scuta pearl white. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
It is pretended that the bite of the Bora does not prove 
mortal till after 10 or 12 days, but that eruptions in different 
parts of the body soon follow the introduction of the poison 
into the blood. Nothing in the snake seems to warrant a 
belief that it is poisonous. 
Innumerable varieties and species of this genus abound in 
South America, some individuals attaining to an enormous 
size. One was killed on the head waters of the River Amazon 
30 feet in length, and more than 3 feet in diameter; and an 
English nobleman saw one, just after it was killed, on the 
island of Manilla, which measured over 31 feet long, and 
more than 39 inches in diameter. 
The number of species, at present classified, is 13, com- 
posed of 16 varieties. 
SIXTEENTH GENUS—ERYCIDA. 
Sand Snakes. Tail very short, not prehensile. East Indian 
species are : 
No. 1. E. eryx. 1 variety. 
2. E. gongylophis. 1“ 
3. E. cursoria. I) 2 
