THE SOLID-TOOTHED SNAKES. 85 
1. LYCOPHIDIUM CAPENSE. Cape Wolf Snake, Kaapsche Wolf Slang. 
Synonyms—Lycodon capensis ; Lycophidion horstockit. 
Colour—Brown, purplish or olive above; sides of head speckled or 
vermiculate with whitish. 
Varieties— 
A. Brown or dark purple above, the lateral scales tipped with whitish ; 
lower parts whitish. 
B. Dark purplish brown above and below, lateral scales and ventrals 
with a whitish edge ; throat white (Port Elizabeth). 
C. Dark grey above, the scales edged with blackish ; two series of black 
spots along the back, the anterior confluent into crossbars ; throat 
white; ventralsand sub-caudals blackish-brown, edged with whitish. 
Average length—tr foot 6 inches, 
Distribution—Eastern Province of Cape Colony; O. R. C., Transvaal ; 
Southern Rhodesia; Natal; Zululand; Delagoa Bay, and 
northwards to Tropical Africa. (Moist, damp localities among 
dead leaves, and under decaying logs.) 
. LYCOPHIDIUM SEMIANNULIS. Northern Wolf Snake. 
Colour—Greyish blue or purplish above, with irregular black cross- 
bars; snout and sides of head yellowish, speckled with black ; 
blackish-brown beneath, the shields edged with yellowish. 
Average length—1 foot. 
Distribution—Zululand ; Portuguese East Africa. 
iS) 
Genus SIMOCEPHALUS. 
Two Species in South Africa. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
Frontal a little shorter than the parietals ; two 
postoculars ; ventrals 203-241 =: .. Simocaphalus capensis. 
Frontal much shorter than the parietals ; a single 
postocular ; ventrals 171-185 ve .. Simocephalus nyasse. 
I. SIMOCEPHALUS CAPENSIS. ‘Three-cornered or File Snake. Driekant 
Vijlslang. 
Synonym—Heterolepis capensis. 
Colour—Brown above, upper lip, middle of vertebral scales yellowish ; 
yellowish or white beneath. Two rows of blackish blotches the 
whole length of the body at ends of abdominal shields present in 
adults. 
Average length—+4 feet. 
Distribution—Natal; Southern Rhodesia; Delagoa Bay; Portuguese 
East Africa ; Central Africa. 
2. SIMOCEPHALUS Nyass@. Northern Three-cornered or File Snake. 
Noordelijke Driekant Vijlslang. 
Colour—Blackish-brown above, paler brown below, the chin and the 
lateral ventral keel yellowish. 
Average length—4 feet. Attains a length of 5 feet. 
Distribution—Natal; Transvaal; Delagoa Bay; Portuguese East 
Africa ; Central Africa. : 
Genus PSEUDASPIS. 
Genus is represented by one Species only. 
KE YSTO; tHE SPECIES: 
Scales smooth in 27 to 31 rows. Internasal entering 
the nostril; snout with vertical sides, more or less 
prominent ae ae 56 5 ae .. Pseudaspis cana. 
