COLUBER CANUS. 
the form of a cross, and the under parts with transverse blotches of the latter 
colour either at the extremities of the plates, or towards their centres, or at 
both ’ In some specimens the spots are disposed in four regular rows ; in 
others they are in two rows, one on each side, and each spot shaped like a 
sand glass being narrow in the middle, and widest at the extremities. 
Fo rm &c —Figure subfusiform, and somewhat quadrangular in young and 
middle-aged individuals; subcylindrical in adults; head quadrangular, 
rather small, posteriorly as wide as the neck, anteriorly narrow, and termi- 
nating in an obtuse point ; side of head behind eye convex; portion 
of the side in front of eye flat and perpendicular. Cape rather urge 
and the angles of the mouth considerably behind the eyes. Fiom the e 
the body gradually increases in thickness till it reaches its extreme, winch is 
generally about midway between the nose and anus ; from that point it gi 
dually decreases towards the tail, which is in most specimens 1 11 c er a 
shorter, in proportion to the total length, than in the majority of reptiles 
this genus. The point of the tail, particularly in adult specimens is com- 
monly blunt and rounded. The plates covering the upper surface o the Head, 
including the labial, a portion of which is so reflected as to cover the anterior 
extremity of nose, are ten in number, viz. 1 labial, 2 nasal, - lonta , 
supra-ocular, 1 vertical, and 2 occipital plates; the labial at its ase, 
which constitutes a portion of the edge of upper lip is notched, the note \ 
being a curve, the convexity of which is directed upwards ; the shape o t ns 
plate is triangular, its apex reaching the point at which the nasal plates come 
in contact anteriorly ; the vertical plate somewhat triangular, and moie oi less 
distinctly six-sided ; its apex lying between the occipital plates ; labial plates 
of upper lip six or seven, those towards angles of mouth largest, of lower lip 
eleven or twelve, exclusive of the central one, covering the apex of the lowei 
jaw ; postocular plates generally two, anti-ocular plates one or two. Eyes 
small and deeply set ; nostrils small, widest behind, pointed in front, and 
situated much nearer to the point of the nose than the eye. Scales of the 
body rhomboidal and disposed in rows, which run obliquely across the bodj 
from the abdominal plates on one side to those of the other, each row 
generally consisting of twenty-seven scales ; subcaudal scales six-sided, the 
two central sides longest ; the tip of the tail usually covered with a hard 
elastic, and somewhat horny sheath, the apex of which is either blunt or 
aculeated. The abdominal plates vary in number in different specimens, 
ranging from 172 to 209 ; the subcaudal scales from 60 to 84, and there is 
no reason for supposing that the number is in proportion to the size of the 
specimen. The usual length of an adult specimen is from five to six feet, but 
individuals are frequently obtained which measure even more than seven feet. 
