128 Dr. A. Giinther on new Species of Snakes 
the body much more compressed, and the ventral shields di- 
stinctly keeled ; the scales on the middle of the trunk are rather 
short, rounded behind, two-grooved; the rostral shield is more 
depressed, considerably broader than high; six pairs of lower 
labial shields are in contact with the chin-shields. Ventral 
shields 228, subcaudals 128. This is the true Philodryas 
(Coluber) viridissimus of Linné, who states Surinam to be its 
native country, and 217 ventral and 122 subcaudal shields. 
The southern species (PI. IX. fig. 7) has the body more rounded, 
and no trace of a keel on the ventrals; the scales on the middle 
of the trunk are lanceolate, one-grooved; the rostral shield (in 
fact, the whole snout) is more elevated, as high as broad; five 
pairs of lower labial shields are in contact with the chin-shields. 
Ventral shields 191-196, subcaudals 108-110. All the five spe- 
cimens of this species which I have examined are from Brazil 
(two from Bahia); and I name it after Prof. J. Reinhardt in 
acknowledgment of his having been the first who introduced this 
important character into science. Prof. Reinhardt enumerates 
the isolated instances in which the dots have been observed by 
herpetologists (p. 220) ; Dendrophis punctulata must be added 
to them, the grooves having been observed by Dr. Gray, who 
named this species after the ‘ black dots” visible at the tip of 
each scale (King’s ‘ Australia’ ii. App. p. 482). The grooves 
in this species are more distinct than in any other I have seen, 
being quite of a black colour. 
Dromicus mentalis. Pl. IX. fig. 9. 
Scales smooth, in nineteen rows, with two distinct grooves at 
the apex. Upper labials seven, the third and fourth entering the 
orbit ; loreal square. Only five pairs of lower labials are in 
contact with the chin-shields. Five scale-like temporals. 
Rostral shield oblique, much broader than high, just reaching 
the upper surface of the crown. Anterior frontals half the size 
of the posterior, Vertical oblong, with the lateral edges nearly 
parallel, much shorter than the occipitals, which are slightly 
rounded behind. The single anterior ocular extends to the upper 
surface of the crown ; two posterior oculars. The anterior tem- 
poral shield, which is not much larger than the posterior ones, is 
in contact with the lower ocular, and very slightly with the upper. 
Ventral shields 189; anal bifid; subcaudals 112. — 
Ground-colour brownish olive; a black band from the eye 
running backwards and joining a black horseshoe-like band on 
the nape of the neck. A series of large black rhombic spots on 
the anterior part of the trunk, partly confluent into a zigzag band ; 
they become less distinct posteriorly, the hind part of the trunk 
and the tail being nearly uniform blackish brown, with irregular 
