OCR Text |
Show 818 MR. G. S. WEST ON THE BUCCAL GLANDS AND [Nov. 19, (PL XLIV. fig. 23), and the Harderian gland is not visible on removal of the skin, the posterior lobe being small and downwardly directed behind the poison-gland. The maxilla (PL X L I V . fig. 24) possesses 12 much attenuated teeth, which are followed by a solitary larger grooved tooth. There are 17 mandibular teeth. The anterior extremity of the mandible, with the first three teeth, is slightly constricted off from the rest and bent downwards and inwards, but no suture is present. This peculiar condition of the anterior end of the mandible has not been observed in any other Snake. Genus CCSLOPELTIS. Species examined :-C. lacertina. The poison-gland is clearly defined and triangular in form (PL X L V . fig. 1). The Harderian gland (PL X L V . fig. 4) has but a very small lobe outside the orbit and this is not visible externally. The maxilla (PL X L V . fig. 2) possesses 9 teeth; the posterior tooth is large, grooved, straighter and less attenuated than usual, the attenuation being confined to the very apex. The first 8 teeth are all of equal size and about one-third as large as the grooved one. There are also 9 mandibular teeth ; the three anterior teeth are very large, but the 6 posterior ones are quite small and separated from them by a marked interspace." Genus PHILODRYAS. Species examined:-P. schottii and P. olfersii. In P. schottii the glands of both the upper and lower lips are of comparatively large size, and the poison-gland is superficially indistinguishable from the superior labial (PL X L V . fig. 8). The Harderian gland has an anterior lobe lining the lower half of the orbit, and a posterior elongated lobe just visible externally above the superior labial gland. The maxilla (PL X L V . fig. 9) possesses 12 teeth. The two posterior of these are large, grooved, and almost straight, they are not in a line with the others and are separated from them by a wide diastema; the 10 preceding teeth form a uniform closely-set series. The mandibular teeth are 8 in number; there are 4 uniform anterior teeth equal in size to the maxillary, and then a diastema followed by 4 more very small teeth. The folds surrounding the grooved teeth are only united in front of the bases of the first tooth, their lower portions being free. In P. olfersii the glands are not by any means so extensive (PL X L V . fig. 6), and the maxilla possesses but 7 teeth, there being 6 solid widely separated teeth, followed by a rather large grooved fang (PL X L V . fig. 7). Genus PSAMMODYNASTES. Species examined :-P. pulverulentus. The specimen of this Snake examined was in a damaged condition. |