new Snake from Nubia. 7-^ 



perfectly smooth, in 41 to 45 rows. Ventrals 181-187; anal 

 small, entire ; subcaiulals 16-19. Tail pointed, ending in a 

 curved, claw-like, horny scute, as I have described in Eryx 

 Jayalcnri. Cream-colour, above with a dorsal series of large 

 dark-brown blotches, some of which alternate and are con- 

 fluent into a zigzag band ; a lateral series of smaller dark 

 brown spots, alternating with the dorsals. 



Total length 370 millim. ; tail 30. 



Two examples of this species from Sermar, obtained by 

 the Italian traveller Marno, were noticed by Dr. F. Miiller 

 in his Catalogue of the lle])tiles in the Basle Museum 

 (Verh. nat. Ges. Basel, vi. 1878, p. 650), and provision- 

 ally referred to Eryx jacuhis. Through the kindness of 

 Dr. Miiller I have now received one of the two specimens, 

 and feel no hesitation in pronouncing it to belong to a new 

 species, with which it gives me great pleasure to connect the 

 name of my friend the distinguished herpetologist. 



This now brings the number of Eryces [Eryx and Gongy- 

 lopJa's) to eight, which may be easily distinguished by means 

 of the following synopsis : — 



I. A mental groove : Eryx, Daud. 



A. Eyes latero-superior, separated from each 



oilier by six or more lougitudiual series of 

 scales ; tail obtuse or obtusel}' pointed. 



a. Anal shield small ; ventrals and subcaudals 



narrow. 



64^65 scales across the middle of the body ; ven- 

 trals 194-210 E. Johnii, Russ. 



40-50 scales across the middle of the body ; ven- 

 trals 165-200 E. jaculm, L. 



36 scales across the middle of the .body ; ven- 

 trals 184 E. elegans, Gray. 



b. Anal shield large ; ventrals and subcaudals 



broad, the former occupying at least one 



fom-th the circumference of the body . . E. semiariensis, Jan. 



B. Eyes entirely on the upper surface of the 



head, separated from each other by four 

 longitudinal series of scales ; tail pointed, 

 ending in a cm-ved, claw-like, horny scute. E. Jayukari, Blgr. 



II. No mental groove : Gongylophis, Wagl. 



A. Scales keeled, at least on the hind part of 

 the body ; tail ending in a conical scute. 



8-10 keeled scales fr-om eye to eye across the 

 forehead ; rostral without angular edge ; scales in 

 40-49 rows G, conicus, Schn. 



