290 OPHIDIA. 



FAMILY OF DESERT mAKE^—PSJMMOPHW.^. 



Body and tail generally elongate, sometimes stout, rounded ; head very 

 distinct from neck, narrow or thick, with the loreal region very concave. 

 Scales smooth, in fifteen, seventeen, or nineteen rows ; subcaudals two- 

 rowed. Cleft of the mouth wide ; nostril lateral ; eye of moderate size, 

 with round or vertical puj)il. Shields of the head normal : posterior frontals 

 rounded or angular behind ; vertical narrow, superciliaries prominent ; loreal 

 present ; one prae-, two post-oculars. One of the four or five anterior 

 maxillary teeth is longer than the others, and the last is grooved. 



Most of the species of this family belong to the fauna of tropical Africa, which also pro- 

 duces a slender form {Psammophis elegans). The other species are of a stouter habit, fre- 

 quenting plains, or at all events living on the ground. The family approaches in some 

 respects the Dryiophidoe ; but species of the latter family may always be distinguished either 

 by the green coloration, or the horizontal pupil, or the absence of a long anterior maxillary 

 tooth. 



The Indian species belong to two genera : — 



Body more or less slender Psammophis, p. 290. 



Body rather stout Psammodynastes, p. 292. 



PSAMMOPHIS, Boie. 



Body and tail elongate ; head with a rather long and pointed snout ; loreal 

 region concave, superciliaries prominent. Shields of the head regular : ver- 

 tical long and narrow ; loreal elongate. Scales lanceolate, smooth, flat, in 

 from fifteen to nineteen rows. Anal bifid. Pupil round. Maxillary with 

 the fourth or fifth tooth elongate, and with the last tooth grooved ; front 

 teeth of the lower jaw long. 



One species of this African genus is found in British India. 



