SNAKES. 47 



vertical much elongate, with parallel outer edges and an acute 

 angle behind ; occipitals rather small. Anterior ocular raised on 

 surface of crown, but not reaching the vertical ; two posterior 

 oculars ; loreal large, high ; two nasals ; eight upper labials, 

 fourth and fifth forming the lower edge of eye ; one moderate, 

 elongate temporal shield in front, four smaller ones behind. 

 Scales in nineteen rows, moderate, rhomboidal; anal bifid. Above 

 brown ; some scales black-edged, forming indistinct narrow cross 

 bands j two light longitudinal streaks on each side of back, be- 

 coming more distinct on the tail ; beneath whitish with sub- 

 quadrangular black spots, each occupying a half or an entire ven- 

 tral plate. Length of cleft of mouth ^V" ; length of tail 4|" ; 

 total length 21". 



■&• 



8. Erythrolamprus, Boie. 



Body rather elongate, cylindrical ; tail moderate ; belly flat ; 

 head not distinct from neck, rounded, with short muzzle. Ros- 

 tral shield moderate, rounded above, just reaching the surface of 

 head ; one anterior, two posterior oculars, one loreal. Scales 

 rather large, in fifteen rows, rhombic ; anal bifid. Eye moderate, 

 pupil round ; nostril between two shields. Posterior maxillary 

 teeth rather longer, grooved ; those of the lower jaw equal in 

 length ; body encircled by black rings. South America. 



Erythrolamprus, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 981 ; Wagl. Natiirl. Syst. 

 Amph. p. 187 ; Bum. Sf Bibr. vii. p. 843. Coronella, sp., Schleg. 

 Ess. ii. p. 53. Coluber, sp., auct. prior. 



1. Erythrolamprus venustissimus. 



Coronella venustissima, Schleg. Ess. ii. p. 53. 



Red, in spirits white, with pairs of black rings ; red scales black 

 at the tip. 



Var. A. Coluber se.sculapii, Linn. Mus. Ad. Fried, t. 11. f. 2, 

 and Syst. Nat. i. p. 380; Laur. Syn. p. 76 ; Merr. Naturg. Amph. 

 i. t. 5 ; Cuv. Regne Anim. ; Buv. Ann. Sc. Nat. 1833, pi.. 4. f. A. 

 Erythrolamprus aesculapii, Boie, Isis, 1827, p. 538 ; Wagl. Syst. 

 Amph. p. 187; Bum. cf Bibr. p. 845. Coronella venustissima, 

 var. de Surinam, Schleg. 1. c. p. 55. 



Body rather stouter; shields of the muzzle, fifth and sixth 

 upper labial, pure white. 



a, b. Adult. Demerara. From Mr. Snellgrove's Collection. 

 c-f. Half-grown. Berbice. 

 g. Half-grown. Berbice. 

 h. Adult. Para. 



