37 

 Fam. III. Pythonid^e. Pythons. 



Body very thick ; head depressed, abnor- Python. 

 mally shielded. Labial shields pitted. Ventrals 

 very narrow, 240 or more. Scales smooth, 65 

 or more. Rudimentary hind limbs visible. 



Fam. IV. ERYciDiE. Sand Snakes. 

 Body thick, tail very short, narrow ventrals, Gongyiophis. 



„ Cursoria. 



numerous rows oi scales. Crown of the head Eryx. 

 scaled. Eudimentary hind limbs generally 

 present. 



Fam. V. AcEOCHOEDiD^. Wart Snakes. 

 Head small; eye small; nostrils superior. -^'"■'"'*?''''«»- 



■' ' -^ Chersydrius. 



Entirely covered with small tubercular or 

 spiny scales, no ventrals or subcaudals. Tran- 

 sitional to the sea-snakes. 



Fam. VI. Ukopeltid.«. Rough-tailed Earth Snakes. 



Body cylindrical ; head short, conical ; tail ^hinophis. 

 very short, ending in a rough or scaly disk, *'%*«»■». 

 generally obliquely truncated. Head shielded, MeianopMdimt. 

 but only one pair of frontals ; ventral shields 

 apparent. No palatine teeth. Burrowing 

 snakes, living at some distance under ground. 



Fam. VII. XENOPELTiD.a;. Iridescent Earth Snakes. 



Body cylindrical ; tail short, tapering ; head ^enopdtu. 

 flat, depressed, covered with large triangular 

 shield-like scales. Burrowing snakes transi- 

 tional to the more highly developed families. 



