SNAKES. 193 



numerous on the posterior part of body, each occupying a half 

 plate or an entire one. Length of cleft of mouth 4" ; length of 

 tail 7" ; total length 29". 



Fam. XII. LYCODONTID.E. 



Body generally moderate, rounded or slightly compressed, in 

 one genus very elongate and slender ; tail moderate, rounded, 

 tapering ; head oblong, with flat crown and generally with de- 

 pressed, broad, rounded muzzle. Eye rather small, pupil ellip- 

 tical, erect ; shields of crown regular, generally posterior frontals 

 very large; lateral shields of head sometimes complete, some- 

 times irregular ; one or two nasals, one or no loreal, never more 

 than two anterior and two posterior oculars. Scales rhomboid 

 or ovoid, sometimes those of the vertebral line larger; anal 

 generally entire ; subcaudals bifid or entire. Anterior teeth of 

 both jaws longest (except in Odontomus) ; without any grooved 

 tooth in front or behind. 



Lycodon, Schlegel, Essai, ii. p. 104. Lycodontieus, Dum. ^- 

 Bibr. vii. p. 352. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



1. SiMOCEPHALUS. Body and tail very slender; head spa- 



tulate ; each scale of the vertebral series with two sharp 

 keels. West Africa. 



2. Lamprophis, Two nasals, nostril between; one loreal; 



one anterior, two posterior oculars ; two labials coming into 

 the orbit. Scales smooth, in twenty-three rows ; those of 

 the vertebral line larger. South Africa. 



.3. Alopecion. Two nasals, nostril between ; one loreal ; one 

 anterior, two posterior oculars; three labials coming into 

 the orbit. Scales smooth, much imbricate, those of the 

 vertebral line larger. West Africa. 



4. Lycophidion. Two nasals, anterior one pierced by the 



nostril; one loreal, one anterior, two posterior oculars. 

 Scales smooth. South Africa ; West Africa. 



5. Metoporhina. Body rounded. One nasal, pierced by 



the nostril ; one loreal, not reaching the orbit ; one ante- 

 rior, two posterior oculars. Scales smooth. West Africa. 



6. BooDON. Scales in twenty-three to thirty-one rows, those 



of the back equal; subcaudals bitid. S. and W. Africa. 



7. HoLUROPHOLis. Scales in twenty-five rows ; subcaudals 



entire. West Africa. 



K 



