go THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
spots along the anterior two-thirds of the back; yellowish-white 
below. 
Average length—1 foot. 
Distribution—Zululand ; Portuguese East Africa. 
HOMALOSOMA. 
Two Species in South Africa. 
KEY 420. fHE SPECIES: 
Ventral 115-144 .. oc oc Ait .. Homalosoma lutrix. 
Ventrals 97-110 .. 3e “ec Homalosoma variegatum. 
I. HOMALOSOMA LUTRIX. The Homalosoma Snake. 
Synonyms—Coluber lutrix ; Homalosoma shiranum. 
Colour—Colouration very variable; under-parts and lower surface of 
tail uniform yellowish in the middle, and greyish on the sides, 
usually with a regular lateral series of black dots. 
The following is the description of the various varieties :— 
A. Pale Brown or yellowish above, with a vertebral seriés of black 
dots ; greyish olive or plumbeous on the sides, which are limited 
above by a series. of black dots ; lateral ventral dots large. 
B. Reddish brown above, blackish olive on the sides, greyish towards 
the belly ; a fine black vertebral line ; lateral ventral dots large. 
C. Like the preceding, but the vertebral line and the ventral dots 
indistinct. 
D. Uniform olive brown above, passing to greyish on the sides; the 
lateral ventral dots very small. 
E. Reddish brown or brick red above, grey on the sides; lateral 
ventral dots well marked. (Eastern Prov. C. C.) 
Average length—1 foot. 
Distribution—Western and Eastern Provinces of Cape Colony ; Natal ; 
O. R.{C.; Transvaal; Rhodesia; North to East and Central 
Africa. 
2. HOMALOSOMA VARIEGATUM. The Variegated Snake. Bont Slang. 
Colour—The colour varies. 
A. Dark brown above, with irregular lichen-like, brownish-white 
variegation. 
B, Olive-brown above, with three series of dark brown spots. Under- 
parts in both varieties reticulated black and whitish. 
Average length—1 foot. 
Distribution—Zululand ; Delagoa Bay; Portuguese East Africa. 
bastiezd 
SUB-FAMILY ,RHACHIODONTIN Az. 
Genus DASYPELTIS. 
A single Genus in South Africa. 
Scales in 23 to 27 rows, laterals very oblique and with serrated keels; 
teeth rudimentary. 
DASYPELTIS SCABRA. The Egg-eating Snake or Eier Vreter, or Eier Slang. 
Synonyms—Coluber scaber ; Anodon typus ; Rachiodon scaber ; Tropi- 
donotus scaber. Dasypeltis inornata. 
