188 COLUBRID. 
Snout short, not much longer than the eye. Rostral nearly as 
deep as broad, visible from above; internasals much shorter than 
the prefrontals; frontal once and one fourth to once and a half 
as long as broad, as long as or a little longer than its distance from 
the end of the snout, as long as the parietals; loreal as long as 
deep or longer than deep; one preocular (rarely divided), not 
reaching the frontal; three postoculars; temporals 142; seven or 
eight upper labials, third and fourth or fourth and fifth entering 
the eye; three or four lower labials in contact with the anterior 
chin-shields, which are smaller than the posterior. Scales in 19 
or 21 rows. Ventrals 164-201; anal divided; subcaudals 91-131. 
Coloration very variable. 
Total length 1500 millim. ; tail 380. 
Tropical and South Africa. 
A. Brown above, upper lip and lower parts yellowish or greyish ; 
young with darker and lighter spots, and the belly speckled 
with brown. (B. typus, Smith.) 
a. A ‘i 19; V. 191; Port Natal. Rev. H. Calloway 
ba 
Ma Tes . go (Sc. 19; Natal. Mr. T. Ayres [C.]. 
V. 185; 0. 117), yee [1] 
(Se. 19; V.192; C. 120), 
& ve. (Se. 19; V.171; 
C. 115). 
e. ak (Se. 21; V. 187; Natal. J. H. Gurney, Esq. 
117 ake 
f. ak (Be. 21; V.169; S. Africa, Chatham Mus. 
¥. 116). 
g: LAS (Se. 19; V.176; Zambesi. Sir J. Kirk [C.]. 
h, ok (Bo. 19; V.180; Zomba, Brit.C. Africa. Sir H. H. Johnston 
23 
> , [P.}. 
t, d (head and tail only). Between the E, Coast Capt. Speke [P.]. 
and Unyamwezi. 
ae. (Sc. 19; V:183; Mpwapwa, interior of | 
ls ee E. Africa. 
1, Her. (Sc. 21; V. 188; Anseba Valley, Abys- W. T. Blanford, Esq. 
C, 98). sinia. Pk 
B. Olive-brown above, yellowish beneath, scales and shields edged 
with blackish. (B. jardinii, Smith.) 
a. 3 (Se. 19; V. 179; Africa. Mr. Argent [C.]. 
C. 112). 3 
©. Green above, uniform or scales narrowly edged with black. 
(B. viridis, Smith.) 
a. ae bbe 19; V. 164; Barberton, Transvaal. 8. African Mus. [P.]. 
b. 2 “ee 19; V. 182; Mpwapwa, E, Africa. 
ha 
g (Se. 19; V. 185; Ugogo, E. Africa. Mr. Baxter [C.]. 
. 125). 
