12 PSAMMOPHIS FLAGELLIFORMIS. 
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number, the superior one extending upwards on the supra-orbital projection; and 
immediately behind these are several scales, taking the place of a temporal plate; 
the anterior orbital are two in number, the lower very small, the upper also small 
and expanding on the supra-orbital projection; the loral is short and wide; the 
frontal plates are quadrilateral; the nasal nearly of the same form; the rostral 
plate is very small, triangular, and rounded in front. 
The nostrils are lateral, large, placed at the junction of two plates, and very 
near the snout; the eyes are very large, but appear sunken in consequence of the 
projection of the superior-orbital plate; the pupil is black, the iris dark grey. 
The neck is small, the body very long; the tail is long, attenuated like a whip- 
chord, which it further resembles in the braided appearance produced by the large 
scales and their dusky margins. 'The scales are all destitute of a carina, and in 
general have two points at the apex; those on the upper part of the neck are 
quite small; on the fore part of the body they are rhomboidal, narrow, and 
elongated, and on the tail and lower part of the body they are short, broad and 
sub-rhomboidal. 
Cotour. The superior surface of the head and neck, and nearly one-third of 
the body, is glossy raven-black, gradually becoming paler on approaching the tail, 
which is of a very light brown or tawny-colour; the scales on the tail are 
rendered conspicuous by their dark margins. The inferior surface of the neck and 
anterior part of the abdomen is bluish slate-colour; the posterior part white, 
clouded with brown; some parts of the abdomen are white and shining, as well as 
the inferior surface of the tail. ‘This snake varies however in colour, or rather in 
shade; Bartram has seen them of a cream-colour, clay-coloured, and sometimes 
almost white, but always raven-black near the head. 
Dimensions. Length of the head, to the small scales, 14 inches; of the head 
and body, 45 inches; of the tail, 16 inches: circumference, 2} inches: total length, 
5 feet 1 inch. Abdominal plates in the specimen figured, 203, and 109 pairs of 
