172 [December, 1S44. 



Leptofhis viridis. 



Description. — Head of moderate size, covered above with nine plates, which 

 are smooth; the rostral is hexagonal; the anterior frontal are pentagonal: 

 the posterior frontal are larger than the anterior; they are hexagonal: there 

 are six circum-orbitar plates, the anterior of which aro the largest: the supra- 

 orbital- plates are large : the vertical plate is also large and hexagonal, the 

 anterior margin is the broadest: the occipital plates are large and pen- 

 tagonal : there are eight superior labial plates, the seventh of which is the 

 largest : the body is slender, covered above with quadrangular scales, which are 

 smooth : the tail is covered above with numerous small hexagonal scales: those 

 upon the under surface are bifid. 



Colour. — Green upon the under surface of the body and tail ; under surface 

 of chin, neck and throat, of a light cream colour. 



Dimensions. 



Length of head, ... 



Greatest breadth, ... 



Length of body, ... 



Length of tail, ... 



Abdominal scuta, 211 : subcaudal 107. 



Coluber ater. 

 Description. — Head of moderate size, covered above with nine plates : the 

 anterior frontal are triangular ; the posterior are large, and pentagonal ; the 

 vertical plate is also pentagonal; the supra-orbital plates are quadrangular; 

 the occipital plates are large ; the rostral plate is quadrangular, its superior 

 margin being rounded where it is joined to the anterior and the nasal plates ; 

 there are two nasal plates, with the nostril placed between them ; there are 

 eight superior labials: the eyes are of moderate size, and projecting; irides 



; the neck is slender, the body rounded, covered above and upon the sides 



with quadrangular carinated scales ; tail of moderato length, tapering, rather 

 more than one-fourth the length of the body. Abdominal scuta 144 : subcaudal 

 72. 



Colour. — Head jet black above ; body dark brown, approaching to black, 

 with numerous irregular black bands, placed at unequal distances, extending as 

 far as the abdomen ; throat, chin, and under parts of body, light green, clouded 

 with numerous dark coloured spots ; under part of tail dark brown, approaching 

 to black. 



Dimensions. 



Inches. 

 Length of head, .... a 



Breadth, ..... s 



1 6 



Length of body, .... 9| 



Length of tail, .... 3| 



The above species are all from Liberia, West coast of Africa. They were 

 brought to this country, with one exception, by Ur. Gohcen, and put in tho 

 possession of S. S. Haldeman, Esq., of Columbia, Pennsylvania, to whose kind 

 ncss I am indebted for the opportunity of describing them. 



