(26 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
g. PSAMMOPHIS CRUCIFER. Crossed Grass Snake. Kruis Gras Slang. 
Synonym—Coluber crucifer. 
Colour—Pale olive or brownish above, with a black-edged dark verte- 
bral band, three scales wide which extends to the head, giving off - 
one or two transverse bars on the nape, and enclosing a light 
spot or streak on the suture between the parietal shields ; sides 
of head with large dark blotches, the pre- and postoculars 
yellowish ; a more or less distinct band along each side of the 
body, with a white streak below it on the lower half of the outer 
row of scales and the outer ends of the ventrals; lower parts 
yellow or reddish orange, uniform or finely speckled with blackish 
with a dark streak or series of small spots on each side. 
Average length—z feet. 
Distribution —-Both provinces of Cape Colony; Basutoland ; Natal ; 
Zululand ; Orange River Colony ; Transvaal. 
10. PSAMMOPHIS ANGOLENSIS. 
Synonyms—A mphiophis angolensis ; Coluber crucifer ; Ablabes home- 
yevi ; Dromophis angolensis. 
Colour—Pale olive above, with a dark olive or blackish vertebral 
stripe three scales wide, finely edged with black and yellow ; 
head dark olive in front; blackish behind, with three yellow 
transverse lines, the first behind the eyes, the third behind 
the parietal shields; two black cross-bands may be present on 
the nape of the neck, separated by a yellowish interspace ; 
labials and preoculars yellowish white; one or two more or 
less distinct dark lines or series of dots along each side; lower 
parts whitish. 
Average length— 2 feet. 
Distribution—Orange River Colony; Angola; East and Central Africa. 
Genus THELOTORNIS. 
This Genus is represented by one Species. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
Scales in 19 rows, feebly keeled. Ventrals 147-181. Anal divided. 
Sub-caudals 117-170. Pupil horizontal; eye large; body slender. 
Tail very long and slender. 
1. THELOTORNIS KIRTLANDII. Bird Snake; Vogelvreter Slang. 
Synonym—Leptophis kirtlandi. 
Colour—Greyish or pinkish-brown above, uniform or with more or less 
distinct darker and lighter spots and cross bands; head green 
above, with or without some patches of pinkish, speckled with 
black and a pinkish black-dotted streak on each side of the head, 
passing through the eye ; upper lip cream-colour or pink, uniform 
or spotted with black; one or several black blotches on each 
side of the neck ; greyish or pinkish beneath, speckled or striated 
with brown. 
There are two varieties, which are coloured as follows :— 
A. Head uniform green above and on the sides; black 
blotches usually forming cross bands on the neck. 
B. Head with black dots above and on the sides; no cross 
bands on the neck. 
Average length—+4 feet. 
Distribution—All over South Africa in forest clad parts, excepting Cape 
Colony ; Northwards to East and Tropical Africa. 
