250 COLUBRID. 
after an interspace, by a very large grooved fang situated in 
advance of the eye; second and third or third and fourth man- 
dibular teeth large, fang-like. Head small, not distinct from 
neck ; eye very small, with round pupil; nostril in a single or 
divided nasal, which does not touch the rostral, the internasal 
forming a suture with the first labial ; no loreal. Body cylindrical ; 
scales smooth, without pits, in 15 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail 
very short ; subcaudals in two rows. 
West Africa, 
Maxillary and mandible of Miodon acanthias. 
Synopsis of the Species. 
I. Anal entire; ventrals 190-216 .. 1. acanthias, p. 250. 
II. Anal divided, 
A. Frontal longer than broad. 
Internasals considerably shorter than the 
prefrontals; ventrals 201-228...... 2. collaris, p. 251. 
Internasals as long as or slightly shorter 
than the prefrontals; ventrals 214~ 
BOND nds cx ch ad oes Bak wns eae 3. gabonensis, p. 252. 
Internasals as long as or slightly shorter 
than the prewfrontals; ventrals 181- 
| RE er Pre or yy on ts 4, notatus, p. 252. 
B. Frontal as long as broad ; ventrals 238. 
5. neuwiedii, p. 253. 
1. Miodon acanthias. 
Urobelus acanthias, Reinh, Vidensk. Meddel. 1860, p, 229 
Elapomorphus acanthias, Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat, Phys. ii, ides ee 47, 
and Icon. Gén, 14, pl. iii. fig. 4 (1865). 
—— acanthias, ese” Giinth, Ann, § Mag. N. H. (8) i. 1888, p. 828. 
? Microsoma co var. D, Bocage, Herp, Angola, p. 126 fat: ). 
~ Diameter of eye less than its distance from the oral margin. 
Rostral broader than deep, just visible from above; internasals 
shorter than the prefrontals ; frontal once and a half as broad as 
the supraocular, once and a half to once and two thirds as long as 
