28 Dr. A. Giinthcr on new Species of Snakes 



one prseocular, nearly reaching the vertical; two postoculars; 

 nine upper labials, the fourth, fifth, and sixth of which enter the 

 orbit. Temporals 2 + 2, the two anterior being in contact with 

 the postoculars. Scales much imbricate. Ventrals 159; anal 

 entire ; subcaudals 85. Deep black above and below; only the 

 lower side of the head and the thirty anterior ventral shields are 

 whitish. 



We have received one example only, in a collection made by 

 Lieut. Bell at Sierra Leone ; it is 33 inches long, the tail mea- 

 suring 9 inches. 



Ahcetulla nigromarginata. 



Scales in fifteen rows, slightly keeled. Head small, depressed, 

 with the snout of moderate length, subtruncate in front ; rostral 

 shield rather broader than high; loreal none; prseorbital not 

 reaching the vertical; two postorbitals; nine upper labials, the 

 fifth and sixth of which enter the orbit ; temporals large, 1 + 2 ; 

 occipitals rounded, with some larger rounded scales behind. 

 Six lower labials are in contact with the chin-shields. Eye 

 rather large, with round pupil. Body and tail slender and 

 compressed. Ventral shields 158, slightly keeled ; anal bifid; 

 subcaudals 115. Maxillary with a cluster of three or four en- 

 larged teeth, which are not grooved and not separated from the 

 others by an interspace. Upper parts green ; each head-shield 

 and scale with a black margin; sides without band. Lower 

 parts uniiform greenish. 



This species would enter the subgenus Uromacer of Dumeril 

 and Bibron. 



The British Museum possesses one example of this species, 

 collected by Mr. Bartlett, junr., on the Upper Amazons; it is a 

 female, 30 inches long, the tail measuring 10. 



Fci'ania Sieholdii, Schleg. 



This species attains to a very large size : we have received 

 from the late Sir R. Schomburgk a specimen 46 inches long, 

 the tail measuring 6 inches ; the circumference of the middle of 

 its body is 5\ inches. The spots which are so very distinct in 

 the young are confluent, giving a coarsely reticulated appear- 

 ance to the back. Lower part of the sides and belly with black 

 cross bands placed at regular intervals. Upperside of the head 

 immaculate; a black band from the eye along the temple. 

 This specimen, which is from Siam, has 106 ventral shields 

 only, and the anterior frontals are confluent into one, so that 

 the specimen might be taken for a Hypsirhina, However, an 

 original division of the plate is still indicated by an incomplete 

 suture. The Hypsirhina Bocourti, noticed by Jan as a new spe- 

 cies, is probably not distinct. 



