126 COLUBRID. 
snout, as long as or a little shorter than the parietals; loreal as 
long as deep or a little longer than deep ; one preocular, extending 
to the upper surface of the head but not reaching the frontal; two 
postoculars ; temporals 1+2 or 243; eight upper labials, fourth 
and fifth entering the eye; four or five lower labials in contact with 
the anterior chin-shields, which are as long as or shorter than the 
rior. Scales in 17 rows, all smooth. Ventrals 154-187; anal 
divided; subcaudals 59-98, Greyish or pale brown above, with two 
series of small blackish spots connected by a dark vertebral line ; 
the spots and bands unite on the occiput and nape and form a more 
or less marked zigzag band; a dark streak on each side of the head, 
passing through the eye; tail with three dark stripes; whitish or 
pale brownish below, spotted or speckled with brown. 
Total length 355 millim.; tail 85. 
Tropical Africa south of the Equator, East Africa, 
a. g (V. 187; C.73). Rios de Sena, Zambesi, Sir J. Kirk [C.}, 
(Type. 
b. ¢ (V.188; C.77). Cape McLear, Lake A. A Simons, Esq. 
yassa. .). 
e. 9 (V.171; C. 68). Lake Nyassa. J, twa Esq. 
The specimen from Caffraria referred by Peters to this species 
(Reise n. Mossamb. iii. p. 118) is no doubt specifically distinct, as it 
is stated to have 19 rows of scales and 137 ventrals, 
163. PSEUDABLABES. 
Maxillary teeth small, equal, 14, followed, after an interspace, by 
a pair of enlarged grooved fangs situated just behind the posterior 
border of the eye * ; mandibular teeth equal. Head small, scarcely 
distinct from neck; eye moderate, with round pupil; nostril in a 
single or semidivided nasal. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, with 
apical pits, in 13 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate; sub- 
caudals in two rows. 
Southern Brazil, Uruguay. 
1. Pseudablabes agassizii. 
For synonymy and description, see Vol. II. p. 259 (Contia 
agassizii), and add :— 
Philodryas paucisquamis, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac, 1868, p. 286, 
* These fangs, hidden in the gum, were overlooked by Jan and myself, 
d 
Their presence, first ascertained by Peters, has been pointed out to me by 
Count Peracca. 
