THE ORDER OF SHAKES —OPHIDIA. 
13 
Nothing now remains but to give a few hints with regard to the 
names adopted by naturalists for the scales of the head and body in 
Ophidian reptiles ; and for this purpose three woodcuts are added, to shew— 
1st. The head from above, with nine scales, whereof 
r is the rostral shield 
f anterior frontals (2) 
./posterior frontals (2) 
v vertical 
s superciliary (one over each eye) 
o occipital (2) 
2nd. A side view of the head of a (non-venomous) snake:— 
Shewing —n and n the nasals. 
1. The loreal (absent in nearly all Australian venomous snakes). 
a. Anterior ocular. 
p. Posterior ocular (generally two behind each eye). 
t. Temporals. Many venomous snakes have a large temporal shield wedged in 
between the two last upper labials, in such a manner as to give it the appearance 
of a labial shield. 
u. Upper labials—There are generally six of these shields in venomous snakes (we 
may say always six, never more). ISTon-venomous serpents have seven or more. 
# The lower labial shields, which correspond to those of the upper jaw, and are 
reduced to six in poisonous serpents. The labial shields have not been con¬ 
sidered of much value in distinguishing one group from the other; but, after 
examination of many thousand specimens, it may be safely asserted that, by 
these shields alone can the harmless or venomous character of snakes be ascer¬ 
tained. This rule does not apply to Sea Snakes, nor to the Blind Snakes of the 
family Typlilopidce , but to Australian venomous and innocuous colubrine snakes only. 
