102. HOMiLOSOMA. 27o 



Rostral broader thnn deep, visible from above ; suture between 

 the internasals a little shorter than or nearly as long as that 

 between the prefrontals ; frontal once and a half to twice as long 

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

 as the parietals, once and a half to once and two thirds as broad 

 as tlie supraocular ; nostril in the anterior half of the nasal, which 

 is never in contact with the priBOCular ; a small square loreal usually 

 present ; one pra>- and two (rarely one) post oculars ; temporals 1 + 2 ; 

 six upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye ; two pairs of 

 chin-sliields in contact with each other, the anterior in contact with 

 three or four labials. Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals 115-144; anal 

 entire ; subcaudals 21-46. Coloration very variable ; belly and 

 lower surface of tail uniform yellowish in the middle and gi'eyish 

 on the sides, usually with a regular lateral series of black dots. 



Total length 390 millim. ; tail 65. 



South Africa. 



A. Pale brown or yellowish above, with a vertebral series of black 



dots ; greyish olive or plumbeous on the sides, which are 

 limited above by a series of black dots ; lateral ventral dots 

 large. 



a-e. S (V. 122, 127 ; C.35, S. Africa. Sir J. Macgrigor [P.]. 



40), hgi-. (V. 127, 127; 



C.34,33),&yg. (V. 119; 



0.31). 

 f-q. $ (V. 134,126; C. 28, S. Africa. 



33;. 

 h. cT , skeleton. S. Africa. 



B. Reddish brown above, blackish olive on the sides, greyish 



towards the belly ; a fine black vertebral line ; lateral ventral 

 dots large. 



t. 2 (V. 126; C. 27). S.Africa. 



C. Like the preceding, but the vertebral line and the ventral dots 



indistinct. 



k. 2 (V. 118; C. 37). Port Natal. Mr. T. Ayres [C.]. 



D. Uniform olive-brown above, passing to greyish on the sides ; the 



lateral ventral dots very small. 



/. (S (V. 115 ; C. 45). S. Africa. 



E. Reddish brown or brick-red above, grey on the sides ; lateral 



ventral dots well marked. 



m. S (V. 118 ; C. 42). S. Africa. 



»i. 2 (V. 128; C. 37). Port Elizabeth. Mr. J. L. Drege [}'.]. 



t2 



