in the Collection of the British Museum. 97 



M. Barboza du Bocage has sent us two specimens, whicli 

 came from the province Duque de Bragance (Angola). Total 

 length 24 inches; tail 4 inches. 



Brachyurophis australis, 



Mr. KrefFt has kindly sent us a specimen of the snake described 

 by him as Simotes australis. Finding it very similar in its 

 physiognomy to Brachyurophis semifasciata, which I described 

 and figured in this Journal (January 1863), I re-examined the 

 latter, and am enabled by their comparison to correct several 

 errors. 



1. Both species are congeneric, readily distinguished by their 

 coloration and by the scales, which are more elongate in B. aus- 

 tralis. The dentition of Brachyurophis, which had been injured 

 in the larger specimen of i^. semifasciata, but which is perfect in 

 B. australis, has been erroneously described as opisthoglyphous ; 

 the grooved tooth, on the contrary, is the foremost of the maxil- 

 lary bone, although placed far backwards on the side; two very 

 small teeth occupy the posterior extremity of the maxillary. 

 Therefore Brachyurophis is to be placed in the family of Elapid<B, 

 near Furina. 



2. The typical specimen of Brachyurophis semifasciata and 

 one of Neelaps calonotus were obtained from a collector who had 

 been sent to New Granada, and who stated that they had been 

 collected by himself in that country. Hence I was led to doubt 

 DumeriFs statement that the latter species is a native of Tas- 

 mania. But now, having received a species closely allied to B. 

 semifasciata from Australia, it appears to be almost certain that 

 that collector bought those specimens on his return in England, 

 and that the two species named are really from Tasmania. 



Dendraspis, Schleg. 



Two species of this genus were known, viz. D. angusticeps and 

 D. Jamesonii. I am enabled to add three others from the col- 

 lections made by the members of the Zambesi expedition and by 

 Dr.Welwitsch. The species will be readily distinguished by the 

 following diagnoses. 



Dendraspis Jamesonii, Traill. 



Scales in thirteen rows ; ventral shields 220. The last upper 

 labial shield is not in contact with the upper temporal. 



Dendraspis Welwitschii. PI. III. fig. A, 

 Scales in fifteen rows. Ventrals 213; anal bifid; subcau- 

 dals 107. Seven upper labial shields, the fourth of which enters 

 the orbit, the sixth being the largest. There is only one large 

 Ann, §• Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. xv. 7 



