203. ELACHISTODON. 263 
the oral margin. Rostral broader than deep, the portion visible 
from above about half as long as its distance from the frontal ; 
internasals shorter than the prefrontals; frontal once and one 
third to once and a half as long as broad, as long as or longer 
than its distance from the end of the snout, shorter than the 
parietals ; one przocular, in contact with the posterior nasal; one 
or two postoculars; a single temporal; seven upper labials, third 
and fourth entering the eye, sixth or fifth and sixth in contact with 
the parietal ; four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin- 
shields, which are a little longer than the posterior. Scales in 15 
rows. Ventrals 138-158; anal entire; subcaudals 36-45. Dark 
olive-grey above, the scales more or less distinctly edged with black ; 
ventrals and subcaudals yellowish, olive-grey, or yellowish dotted 
or spotted with grey, the spots sometimes forming a median series. 
Total length 540 millim. ; tail 75. 
West Africa, from Liberia to the Congo. 
a. 2 (V. 158; C. 41). W., Africa. Mr. Rich [C.]. (Type.) 
b-d. 2 (V.154, 150,151; W. Africa. J.C. Salmon, Esq. | P.]. 
C. 37, 37, 36) 
e. d (V. 144; C.P). Lagos. Sir A. Moloney [P.]. 
Ff. 2° (V. IAL; C. 44). Niger. J. W. Crosse, Esq. { P.]. 
g. & (V. 188; C. 45). Gaboon. 
h-k. 3 (V. 189, 140; Cette Cama,Gaboon. 
C. 44, ?) & yg. (V 
156; C. 41). 
1. 2 (V. 155; C. 37). Mouth of the Loango. Mr. H. J. Duggan [C.]. 
Subfam. 6. ELACHISTODONTIN A, 
Only a few teeth on the posterior part of the maxillary and 
dentary bones and on the palatines and pterygoids. Some of the 
anterior thoracic vertebrae with the hypapophysis much developed, 
directed forwards, and capped with enamel. 
A single genus, the opisthoglyphous analogue of the aglyphous 
Dasypeliis. 
203. ELACHISTODON. 
Elachistodon, Reinh. Overs. Dansk. Vid. Selsk. Forh. 1863, p. 206; 
Bouleng. Faun, Ind., Rept. p. 362 (1890). 
Maxillary and mandible edentulous in front; two minute maxillary 
teeth followed by-a pair of small grooved teeth; eight mandibular 
teeth. Head scarcely distinct from neck; eye rather small, with 
vertically elliptic pupil; posterior nasal deeply concave. Body 
elongate, somewhat compressed; scales smooth, in 15 rows, ver- 
tebral row enlarged. ‘Tail short; subcaudals in two rows. 
' Bengal... 
