68 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



verse, band-like, often 6-sided ; tail short, 

 conical, generally prehensile. Live in marshy 

 places. 



6. Family. — Serpents-proper (Colubridae). Vent 



without spur-like feet; head usually shielded; 

 belly with broad band-like shields; nostrils 

 apical, lateral, open; tail conical, tapering. 

 Live chiefly in dry places. 



7. Family. — Grown- Serpents (Coronellidae). Size 



moderate or small ; body compressed, often 

 angular ; scales generally smooth, temporal- 

 scales large ; tail conical, rather long. In- 

 habit dry or humid regions. 



8. Family. — Short-Headed Serpents (Oligodontidse). 



Size small ; head short, narrow, obtuse ; pala- 

 tine teeth wanting ; colours mostly bright. 



9. Family. — Wood-Serpents (Herpetodryadidae). 



Form slender ; head elongate ; tail much 

 lengthened ; mouth very wide ; scales small, 

 partly carinated, in oblique series. Colours 

 chiefly green. Live in woods. 



10. Family. — Tree-Serpents (Dendrophidse). Form 



elongated; trunk compressed; tail slender, 

 in some angular ; head small, not broader 

 than body ; pupils mostly orbicular ; colours 

 generally vivid. 



11. Family. — Forest-Serpents (Dipsadidae). Body 



somewhat lengthened, vigorous, compressed; 

 head thick, obtuse, broader than body ; pupils 

 often vertical; row of scales along spine 

 larger than those of sides. 



