496 Annals of the South African Museum. 



a pair of smaller ones behind it ; three lower labials, third very 

 large. Tail thickened and abruptly truncate at the end. 290 to 320 

 annuli on the body and 25 to 28 on the tail ; an annulus in the 

 middle of the body includes 28 to 32 segments, 18 or 20 dorsal and 

 10 or 12 ventral ; the two median ventral segments much broader 

 than long ; the transverse series of segments on the upper surface of 

 the tail more or less angular, the angles directed backwards. Pec- 

 toral shields six, large, elongate, median pair broadest and longest, 

 longer than the head, of equal width in its posterior half. Six 

 anal segments. No praeanal pores. Uniform yellowish white 

 in spirit. 



Total length, 520 mm. ; tail, 43 ; diameter of body, 8 ; diameter of 

 tail at base, 5 ; diameter of tail at end, 8. 



Three specimens from Sesheke, Barotseland (coll. Rev. L. Jalla). 



Part II.— OPHIDIA. 



Synopsis of the Families represented in South Africa. 



I. Worm-like, with the eyes under the more or less transparent 

 head-shields ; mouth very small, either the upper or the lower 

 toothless ; body covered with uniform scales. 

 Lower jaw toothless ; ocular shield not bordering the mouth ; at 



least 20 scales round the body Typhlojndce. 



Upper jaw toothless ; ocular shield bordering the mouth ; 14 scales 



round the body Glaiiconiidce. 



II. Eyes exposed ; both jaws toothed ; enlarged ventral shields 

 usually present. 



A. Maxillary bone horizontal, not vertically movable ; poison- 

 fangs, if present, small or rather small. 



Praemaxillary bone toothed ; rudiments of hind limbs, usually ap- 

 pearing externally as a claw-like horny spine on each side of the 



vent ; labial shields with pits lioiiUe. 



No prasmaxillary tooth ; no rudiments of hind limbs ; labial shields 



without pits ColuhridcE. 



B. Maxillary bone very short, vertically movable, bearing only 



the poison-fangs, which are usually very large Viperida:. 



