169. DRoMOPHIS. 149 
169. DROMOPHIS. 
Dryophylax, part., Dum. § Bibr. Erp. Gén. vii. p. 1103 (1854). 
Psammophis, part., Giinth. Cat. Col. Sn. p. 135 (1858). 
ae 8 part., Giinth. l.c. p. 145; Jan, Elenco sist. Ofid. p. 86 
1863). 
Piilodr as, part., Jan, 1. c. p. 83. 
Dromophis, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac, 1869, p. 447. 
Maxillary teeth 10 or 11, unequal in size, middle longest, and 
gradually decreasing in size in front and behind, followed, after a 
short interspace, by a pair of large grooved fangs situated below 
the posterior border of the eye; anterior mandibular teeth longest. 
Head distinct from neck ; eye moderate, with round pupil; frontal 
narrow. Body cylindrical ; scales smooth, more or less oblique, with 
apical pits, in 15 or 17 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail long; sub- 
caudals in two rows. 
Tropical Africa. 
Maxillary and mandible of Dromophis lineatus, 
1. Dromophis lineatus. 
Dryophylax lineatus, Dum. § Bibr. vii. p. 1124 (1854). 
Psammophis sibilans, part., Giinth. Cat. p. 136 (1858). 
Philodryas lineatus, Jan, Elenco, p. 83 (1863). 
Dromophis lineatus, Bouleng. Ann. §& Mag. N. H. (6) xvi. 1895, 
p. 33. 
Snout once and a half to once and two thirds as long as the eye. 
Rostral as deep as broad, visible from above; nostril between two 
shields; internasals one third to one half as long as the pre- 
frontals ; frontal once and two thirds to twice as long as broad, 
not or but slightly narrower, in the middle, than the supraocular, as 
long as its distance from the end of the snout, as long as or a little 
shorter than the parietals ; loreal once and a half to once and two 
thirds as long as deep; one preocular, not reaching the frontal; 
two (rarely three) postoculars ; temporals 1+1 or 2; eight upper 
labials, fourth and fifth entering the eye; four (rarely five) lower 
labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are as long as 
or a little shorter than the posterior. Scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 
140-159; anal divided; subcaudals 78-105. Olive, most of the 
scales black-edged, with three greenish-yellow longitudinal lines, 
one on the vertebral row of the scales, the others on the fourth and 
fifth rows; outer row of scales greenish yellow, like the belly, its 
upper border black; young with light cross-bars on the occiput and 
