PSAMMOPHIS. 



365 



PSAMMOPHIS, 



Boie, Isis, 1827, p. 521. 



Fig. 107. Head and dentition of 

 Psamnwphis condaiiarus. 



Maxillary teeth 10 to 13, one 

 or two in the middle much en- 

 larged, fang-like, and preceded 

 and followed by an interspace, 

 the two posterior grooved ; 

 anterior mandibular teeth long, 

 posterior small. Head elon- 

 gate, distinct from neck, with 

 angular canthus rostralis ; eye 

 rather large, with round pupil. 

 Body elongate, cylindrical ; 

 scales smooth, in 15 or 17 

 rows, \vith apical pits ; veutrals 

 rounded or obtusely augulate 

 laterally ; tail long ; subcaudals 

 in two rows. 



Distribution. 9 or 10 species 

 are known, from Africa and 

 Southern Asia. Chiefly sand- 

 snakes, but also found on low 

 bushes. Feed principally on 

 Lizards. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Prseocular forming a suture with the frontal. P. leithii, p. 365. 



B. Prseocular not reaching the frontal. 



a. Praefrontals much shorter than the frontal . P. condanarus, p. 366. 



b. Pnefrontals nearly as long as the frontal . . P. lonyifrons, p. 366. 



454. Psammophis leithii. 



Psammophis leithii, Giinth. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 505, pi. xxxix ; Stoliczka, 

 P.A.S. B. 1872, p. 83 ; Blanf. Zool E. Pers. p. 421 ; Theob. Cat. 

 p. 188 ; Murray, Zool. Sind, p. 382. 



Psammophis sindanus, Stoliczka, P. A. S. B. 1872, p. 83. 



Psammophis condanarus (non Merr.), Blanf. J. A. S. B. xlviii, 1879, 

 pt. 2, p. 126. 



Bostral broader than deep, visible from above ; nostril between 

 two or three shields, the posterior nasal being frequently divided 

 into two ; internasals about half the length of the praefrontals ; 

 frontal very narrow, longer than its distance from the end of the 

 snout, nearly as long as the parietals ; loreal about twice as long as 

 deep ; prseocular single, in contact with the frontal ; two post- 

 oculars ; temporals 1-f 2 or 2 + 2 ; upper labials 8 or 9, fourth and 



