SNAKES. 239 



1849, p. 145. Dinophis hammondii. Hallow. I. c. 1852, p. 203. 

 Dendi'oechis reticulata, Fischer, Michaelis-Programm der Hamh. 

 Realschule, 1855, p. 20. Dendraspis jamesonii, Fischer, Ahhdlg. 

 Gebiete der Naturw. Hamb. 1856, pi. I, and A. Dum. I. c. p. 556. 



Scales very large, in thirteen rows ; ventral plates 220 ; sub- 

 caudals 115. 



a. Adult. Coast of Guinea. 



b. Adult. West Africa. From Mr. Rich's Collection. 



Fam. XV. ATRACTASPIDIDiE. 



Characters and synonymy the same as of the only genus. 



1. Atractaspis, Smith. 



Body moderate, rounded ; tail rather short, not distinct from 

 trunk, ending in a very acute conical spine ; head short, broad, 

 depressed, not distinct from neck, with much depressed rounded 

 muzzle ; cleft of mouth short. Eye very small. Rostral shield 

 broad, protruding, extending between the anterior frontals ; two 

 nasals, nostril between ; one anterior, one posterior ocular ; no 

 loreal. Scales small, smooth, rounded, in nineteen or twenty- 

 five rows ; subcaudals entire. One or two very long perforated 

 fangs in front, without any other teeth behind. South and 

 West Africa. 



Atractaspis, Smith, III. of the Zool. of S. Africa ; Hallowell, 

 Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1857, p. 70. Flaps, sp., Reinhardt, 

 Beskrivelse ofnogle nye slangearter, Kopenh. 1843, p. 41. 



1. Atractaspis irregularis. 



Flaps irregularis, Reinhardt, I. c. pi. 78. f. 2. Atractaspis 

 bibronii, Smith, III. of S. Afr. pi. 71 ; Dum. Sf Bibr. p. 1303; 

 Peters in Wiegm. Archiv, 1855, p. 55. 



Greyish olive above, paler beneath. Scales in nineteen rows. 



a. Adult male. S. Africa. 



2. Atractaspis corpulentus. 



Hallowell, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1857, p. 70. 

 Scales in twenty-five rows. W. Africa. 



