V A neiv crenui of Serpents, Sfc. 177 



acute angle towards the back part of the head : and the two 

 side ones being irregular and more or less rounded, forming 

 tiie uppermost of the orbits, are followed by two larger plates, 

 which complete the number; having an irregular hexaedral 

 form, and reach a little farther than the middle of the head. — 

 The hind part is covered with carinated scales, similar to those 

 that cover the back. The upper lip is composed of twice 

 eight polygon plates, which are joined by a large irregular hex- 

 agonal plate with curvated edges : the second plate from the 

 large hexagonal one forms one of the sides of the aperture 

 mentioned. The lower lip is composed of twice eleven plates, 

 which are joined in the front by a triangular one. 



The upper part of the body and tail is covered with oval 

 scales, slightly carinated ; having at the base, on each side of 

 the keel, a small point, which is hardly perceptible by the naked 

 eye; but when magnified, and kept in a certain position in, 

 regard to the light, reflects a yellow pseudo-metallic lustre, 

 while, in other directions, these points have the same colour that 

 the scales have. 



In the individual from which this description is drawn up, 

 the poisonous perforated fangs were not visible, they being 

 entirely hidden by a muscular cover. When this cover was 

 removed with the scalpel, I found one curvated, perforated 

 fang on each side. The other teeth are small, and are pointed 

 backwards. 



The colour of the upper part of the body is rather of an 

 umber or bistre brown, variegated with lighter shades ; but of 

 which a better idea may be formed by examining the drawing. 

 The colour of the upper part of the head is mostly uniform 

 brown; not quite as dark as the body, but rather intermediate 

 between the darkest and the lightest part of the back. 



A dark longitudinal spot runs from the eyes, and terminates 

 at the extremity of the os articulare of the lower jaw, running 

 side by side with the white border which surrounds the mouth. 



The body is very irregularly marked — dark brown spots 

 running from one side to the other across the back ; from the 



