38 

 B, Snakes of intermediate type. Ventral shields 



FAIRLY developed. HeAD-SHIELDING DEFECTIVE OR 

 ABNORMAL. 



Fam. VIII. CALAMARiDiE. OrovelUng Snakes. 



Body cylindrical ; head small ; tail short, Caiamaria. 

 •I •> ' ' ' Maeroealamus. 



tapering. Eye small : ventral and subcaudal Oxycaiamus. 



Geophis. 



shields well developed ; head shielded, but with Aapidura. 



, ■. , 1 1 . - „ Saplieercus i S 



one or more shields absent (generally one or or 4 new genera. 

 more anterior frontals, and the loreal). Small 

 snakes, living on the surface, under trees, 

 stones, &c. 



Fam. IX. HoMALOPSiDiE. Miver Snakes. 

 Body cylindrical ; tail moderate, compressed Fordmia. 

 at the root. Ventrals rather narrow. Nostrils Cerberus. 

 superior, provided with a fleshy valvule. Ferania. 

 Head-shields often irregular, anterior frontals Eiphtef!*'' 

 encroached on by the large nasals. The last Merpetm. 

 tooth is transitional between a tooth and a 

 poison-fang. Rarely found far from the water. 



Fam,. X. AMBLYCEPHALiDiE. Blunt-headed Snakes. 



Body compressed, slender ; head short and -^mbU/cephaiua. 

 thick. Often a complete orbital ring of shields. 

 Cleft of the mouth small, lower jaw not expan- 

 sible, no mental groove. 



C. Snakes of high type. Ventral shields fully 



DEVELOPED. HeAD-SHIELDINQ NORMAL.* 



Fam. XL OLiGOl)ONTiD.as. Filleted Ground Snakes. 



Head normally shielded, with peculiar mark- oitgodm. 

 ings. Teeth few in number, in one genus no 

 palatines. 



* With a few exceptions in the genera Ablabes, Atretium and 

 Zamenis, of the family Colubridae, the crown and orbital shields are 

 always normal in the families of this section. 



