56 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATION" AX. MUSEUM vol.73 



Gurukezi said they considered its bite poisonous, though but 

 slightly so, as there was only a little local irritation; for the bite 

 they apply the leaves of the '' kinyamalowa", a shrub about 5 feet in 

 height. 



PSAMMOPHIS BISERIATUS (Peters) 



TWO-LINED SAND SNAKE 



Native name. — Zokalugwagu (Chigogo). 



The Wayeye are probably quite unacquainted with this species 

 which hitherto I have only found in thorn bush steppe. They applied 

 their names for T. Mrtlandii and D. fypus to specunens shown them, 

 asserting that they were the young of one or the other. 



This snake is very common at Saranda, where scarcely a day 

 passed (July 14-23, 1926) without my disturbing one or two basking 

 among the fallen leaves at the base of shrubs, into which they van- 

 ished with great rapidity. One had then to remain still and care- 

 fully scrutinize the bush, where presently the snake would be found 

 either lying along a branch to which it had applied its whole length 

 or with the anterior third of its slender body stiffened and projecting 

 into space like a twig. One has but to examine the markings of one 

 of these snakes to appreciate how remarkably well their cryptic col- 

 oring and slender habit simulate the twigs among which they take 

 refuge. The scale formulae of four specimens were in no way un- 

 usual, Sc. 15, V. 148-155, A 2, C. 107-111, L. 8-9, with 4th, 5th, and 

 6th or 3d, 4th, and 5th entering the eye. 



The stomach of one examined contained a large hzard {Latastia 

 longicaudata revoili). 



THELOTORNIS KIRTLANDII (Hallowell) 



BIRD SNAKE 



Native name. — Yangalukwe (Kinyamwezi) . 



The only bird snake received was brought in from Kondoa Irangi 

 and died the following day. The species occurs at Mpapua in 

 Dodoma Province. Gurukezi said they regard it " as poisonous as 

 the mamba, death occurring in one minute if no medicine is used. 

 However, it is not vicious and is frequently brought in with a load 

 of firewood, remaining perfectly quiet until the load is thrown down; 

 if trodden on it will bite." 



DISPHOLIDUS TYPUS (Smith) 



BOOMSIANG OR TREE SNAKE 



Native names. — Yamuhando (Chigogo) for brown variety, Zoka- 

 lugwagu (Chigogo) for young. 



I came across only the brown form around Dodoma, where it was 

 not uncommon ; a big female was taken crossing the road at Kikuyu 



