162 COLUBRID. 
Psammophis sibilans, part., Giinth. Cat. p. 186; Schretb. Herp. Eur. 
p. 217 (1875). 
— es var. bilineatus, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1867, 
. 237. 
kas sibilans, var. mossambica, Peters, Reise n. Mossamb. iii. p. 122 
(1882). ; 
—— sibilans, var. intermedius, Fischer, Jahrb, Hamb. Wiss. Anst. i. 
1884, p. 14. 
sib ans, var. leopardina, Bocage, Jorn. Sc. Lisb. xi. 1887, 
205 
_* "jrregularis, Matechie, Mitth. deutech. Schutegeb, vi. 1898, 
p. 212. 
—— sibilans, var. C, Bocage, Herp. Angola, p. 116 (1895). 
Snout once and a half to twice as long as the eye. Rostral as 
deep as broad; nostril between two or three shields; internasals 
about half as long as the prefrontals; frontal once and three 
fourths to twice and one third as long as broad, narrower, in the 
middle, than the supraocular, as long as or longer than its distance 
from the end of the snout, as long as or a little longer than the 
parietals ; loreal once and two thirds to twice and a half as long as 
deep ; one preocular (rarely divided), in contact with or narrowly 
separated from the frontal; two (rarely three) postoculars ; tem- 
porals 24+2 or 3 (rarely 3+38); eight (rarely nine) upper labials, 
fourth and fifth (or fifth and sixth) entering the eye; four or five 
lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are as 
long as or shorter than the posterior. Scales in 17 rows. Ventrals — 
155-198; anal divided; subcaudals 90-116. Coloration very 
variable. 
Total length 1210 millim.; tail 380. 
Tropical Africa and Egypt. 
A. Olive or brown above, the scales mostly black-edged ; a more or 
less distinct, narrow yellow vertebral line and a broader 
yellow streak along each side of the back; head with yellow, 
black-edged longitudinal streaks in front, and transverse ones 
behind, :which markings, however, may become very indistinct 
in the adult; upper lip yellowish white, uniform or with a few 
brown or black dots on the anterior shields; lower parts, 
including lower half of outer row of scales, yellowish white, 
uniform or with a faint brown lateral line. 
a. 6 (V. 165; C.103). Beltim, between Ro- Dr. J. Anderson [P.]. 
setta and Damietta. 
b. d (V. 166; C. ?). Abassiyeh, near Cairo. Dr. J. Anderson [P.}. 
od. & (V. 164; 0.108) Abu Roash, Gizeh. Dr. J. Anderson 
& Q (V. 158; 0. ?). 
e-f. 6 (V. 167; C. 109) Fayoum. Dr. J. Anderson [P.}. 
& 2 (V. 166; 0, 109). 
g. 9 (V. 1605 6.114). Minia. Dr. J. Anderson [P.]. 
h 
gr. (V. 170; C.?). Anseba Valley, Abys- W.'T. Blanford, Esq. 
sinia. [P.]. 
