128 
ON THE PHYSIOGNOMY OF SEKPENTS. 
it forms a variety produced by climate, very distinguish- 
able by its deep tints ; more massive than the preceding ; 
it has the trunk of a shining blackish -brown, ornamented 
with transverse white bands, which become of a beautiful 
red on the head and tail ; it has a very short and pointed 
tail ; dimensions feet ; scuta 196 -h 6. 
3. Tortrix maculata. — The isle of Ceylon produces 
this species, in many respects like the last ; but what dis- 
tinguishes them, besides the slight difference in shape, is 
the colour of the latter, being a yellowish-brown, relieved 
by a reticulated pattern in black ; it does not exceed a foot 
in total length, and has about 190 + 6 scuta. 
4. Tortrix Eryx is the fourth species, an inhabitant of 
the sandy districts which extend from Egypt to Hindustan : 
it has the short tail massive and obtuse ; all the parts 
are covered by very small scales ; the muzzle is obliquely 
truncated at the point ; the eye has a pupil perpendicularly 
elongated ; it attains the length of 2^ feet, and has 
195 + 20 scuta. This species probably forms in India 
several constant varieties, of which we have not yet suffi- 
ciently studied the distinctive characters. 
5. Tortrix Pseud-Eryx is very near akin to the Eryx, 
and is a native of New Holland ; it is distinguished from 
the former by a tail more long and prehensile, by a body 
more thick and compressed, by a greater development of 
abdominal and frontal plates, and by the number of the 
scuta which equal 200 + 60. 
6. Tortrix Xenopeltis, the sixth, presents a less 
cylindric trunk than the other species • its tail is longer 
and conical ; it wants the hooks at the anus, and the plates 
of the head approach the normal form ; a beautiful shin- 
ing blue-black is reflected from the whole surface of the 
polished epidermis ; the head is white in the young ani- 
mal ; the size 2 feet ; scuta 175 + 28 ; a native of Java, 
Sumatra, and Celebes. 
7. Tortrix Boa is a rare species, found in New Ireland ; 
it has a general resemblance to the form of the Xenopeltis ; 
but its lips are hollowed by fossettes, as in the Boa, and 
the body is surrounded by alternate rings of black and 
white ; it has 250 + 44 scuta. 
