244 COLUBRID 2. 
191. AMBLYODIPSAS. 
Amblyodipsas, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1856, p. 592, and Reise n. 
Mossamb, iti. p. 109 (1882). , 
Amblyodipsas, part., Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. ii. 1862, p. 40. 
Maxillary very short, with five teeth gradually increasing in size - 
and followed, after an interspace, by a large grooved fang situated 
below the eye; mandibular teeth decreasing in size posteriorly. 
Head small, not distinct from neck ; eye minute, with round pupil; 
nostril in a single very small nasal; no internasals; no loreal; 
no preocular; no anterior temporal. Body cylindrical; scales 
smooth, without pits, in 15 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail very 
short, obtuse ; subcaudals in two rows, 
Mozambique. 
1. Amblyodipsas microphthalma. 
Calamaria microphthalma, Bianconi, Spec. Zool. Mosamb. p. 94, 
pl. xii. fig. 1 (1852). 
Amblyodipsas microphthalma, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1856, p. 592; 
Jan, Arch. Zool. per Phys, ii. 1862, p. 41, and Icon. Gén. 14, 
pl. i. fig. 1 (1865) ; Peters, Reise n. Mossamb. iii. p. 109 (1882). 
Rostral broader than deep, the portion visible from above 
measuring about two thirds its distance from the frontal; pra- 
frontals longer than broad; frontal large, nearly twice as long as 
broad, acutely pointed behind, much longer than its distance from 
the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals ; supraocular 
very small; a minute postocular; a single temporal; four upper 
labials, second and third entering the eye, fourth largest and in 
contact with the parietal; four lower labials in contact with the 
anterior chin-shields, fourth very large and narrowly separated 
from its fellow by the posterior chin-shields. Scales in 15 rows. 
Ventrals 142; anal divided; subcaudals 19. Dark brown above; 
upper lip, two outer rows of scales, outer ends of ventrals, and 
lower surface of head and tail white; a dark brown stripe along 
the middle of the belly. 
Total length 300 millim.; tail 24, 
Mozambique, 
192, ELAPOTINUS. 
Elapotinus, Jan, Arch, Zool. Anat. Phys. ii, 1862, p. 31. 
Dentition as in Amblyodipsas, but the groove on the posterior 
fang probably less distinct*. Head small, not distinct from neck ; 
eye minute, with round pupil; nostril between two nasals; no 
* Jan describes the Snake as aglyphodont, but he has overlooked the groove 
on the tooth in so many unquestionably opisthoglyphous Colubrines that we 
may well be permitted to doubt the accuracy of his statement in this particular 
case, | 
