148 Proceedings of tin- Biological Society of Washington. 



Psammophis sibilans (Linne). 



One specimen from Utn Orug; one from Magangani; and a third from 

 Fazogli. These three examples differ considerably from one another in 

 coloration, and, with other specimens in the Museum, show that there 

 is apparently no relationship whatever between type of coloration and 

 distribution. The various color patterns seem to occur indiscriminately 

 throughout the entire range of the species. 



Atractaspis phillipsi sp. now 



Type. — A single young specimen, Mus. Comp. Zool. No. 8782, from 

 Shiga, Province of Sennaar, eastern Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, collected 

 by Dr. J. C. Phillips and Dr. (I. M. Allen, February, 191.'!. 



This species belongs in that section of the genus which has the anal as 

 well as the subcaudals all entire, the postocular in contact with a large 

 temporal, the fourth lower labial largest and the first lower labial in 

 contact with its fellow behind the symphysial. 



Snout rounded; portion of rostral visible from above, considerably 

 shorter than its distance from the frontal; suture between the internasals 

 rather shorter than that between the praef rontals ; frontal slightly longer 

 than broad, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, as long 

 as the parietals; one prae- and one post-ocular; a large temporal wedged 

 down between the fourth and fifth upper labials, which are six in number, 

 the fourth alone entering the orbit, the fourth also the largest scale in 

 the series; first lower labial in contact with its fellow behind the sym- 

 physial ; three lower labials in contact with the chin-shields, the fourth 

 lower labial the largest. Scales in 31 rows. Ventrals 232; anal entire; 

 subcaudals 24, all single. Body solid black above, head very dark iron 

 gray ; belly deep plum color, almost black ; vent white. Length, 290 mm. ; 

 tail, 22 mm. 



Remarks. — I am unable to find any record for this genus nearer than 

 Ogaden, Somaliland, the type locality of A. kucomelas Blgr. , or Wadelai, 

 whence there are specimens in the British Museum of both .4. irregularis 

 (Reinh.) and A. attervma Jan. X>r. Franz "Werner (Sitzb. d. ak. 

 Wissens., Wien, 116, i, 1907, p. 1823-192(3, pi. 1-4), in the report upon 

 the reptiles and amphibians which he collected on his journey to the 

 Egyptian Sudan and northern Uganda, has brought together the various 

 records for this region, bringing the list down to 1907. His only men- 

 tion of the occurrence of this genus in the Sudan is in reference to the 

 two specimens from Wadelai, which were collected by Emin Pacha, and 

 which are now in the British Museum. Dr. Phillips's discovery of this 

 genus in the province of Sennaar extends greatly its known range, and 

 adds an important tropical genus to the fauna as we have known it here- 

 tofore. It is altogether proper that this species should bear his name. 



Since this was written I have received Werner's revision of the entire 

 genus and can not find that anything very closely related to this form is 

 now known. (Werner, Mit. Naturh. Mus. Hamburg, 30, 1913, pp. 

 31-39. ) 



