Note 72 — Chapter XIII

Since this has been in type, there has been brought to the Gardens an Indian ‘River snake’ (Tropidonotus quincunciatus), affording me an opportunity to observe that there is a notable modification of the glottis, as also of the nostrils. Not a true water snake, but one of the intermediate families, so do we find the nostrils somewhat higher than those of land snakes, while yet not quite on the top of the snout as in sea snakes; the glottis has a corresponding upward direction to meet them, and is a more elongated, longitudinal slit than those furnished with the petite languette.—June 1882.