_ 9, ATRACTASPIS. 513 
2. Atractaspis congica. 
Atractaspis aterrima (non Giinth.), Bocage, Jorn, Se. Lish. iv. 1873, 
p. 223, 
congica, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1877, p. 616, pl. —. fig. 2; 
Bocage, Jorn. Sc. Lish. x. 1887, p. 187, and Herp. Angola, p. 142 
(1895). 
—— irregularis, var. congica, Boettg. Ber. Senck. Ges. 1888, p. 87. 
Snout very short, rounded. Portion of rostral visible from above 
about half as long as its distance from the frontal ; suture between 
the internasals longer than that between the prefrontals ; frontal 
slightly longer than broad, twice as long as its distance from the 
end of the snout, as long as the parietals; one pra- and one post-. 
ocular; temporals 1+ 2, anterior very large and wedged in between 
the fourth and fifth labials; five upper labials, third and fourth 
entering the eye, fourth largest ; first lower labial in contact with 
its fellow behind the symphysial; three lower labials in contact 
with the chin-shields, third extremely large. Scales in 19-21 rows. 
Ventrals 200-230 ; anal divided; subcaudals 19-23, a few of the 
anterior entire, rest in two rows. Uniform dark brown or black. 
Total length 450 millim. ; tail 35. 
Congo, Angola. 
a. é (Sc. 19; V.218; Pungo Andongo, Angola. Dr. Welwitsch [P.}. 
. 22). 
3. Atractaspis irregularis. 
a irregularis, Reinh. Vidensk. Selsk. Skrift. x. 1848, p. 264, 
pl. iii. figs. 1-3. 
Atractaspis irregularis, Jan, Rev. & Mag. Zool. 1858, p. 518, and 
1859, p. 511, and Icon. Gén. 43, pl. iii. fig. 1 (1873) ; Pate Mon. 
Berl, Ac. 1877, p. 616; F. Miill. Verh. Nat. Ges. Basel, vi. 1878, 
p. 694; Boettg. Ber. Senck. Ges, 1888, p. 87; Giinth. Ann. §& Mag. 
NV. H. (6) xv. 1895, p. 527; Bocage, Herp. Angola, p. 143 (1895). 
PRE ae (non Hallow.), Bocage, Jorn. Sc. Lisb. i. 1866, 
p- 49. 
Snout very short, rounded. Portion of rostral visible from above 
measuring two thirds to three fourths its distance from the frontal ; 
suture between the internasals longer than that between the pre- 
frontals; frontal as long as broad, much longer than its distance 
from the end of the snout, as long as or slightly shorter than the 
parietals; one pre- and one postocular; a very large temporal 
wedged in between the fourth and fifth upper labials; five upper 
labials, third and fourth entering the eye, fourth largest; first lower 
labial in contact with its fellow behind the symphysial; three lower 
labials in contact with the chin-shields, third extremely large. 
Scales in 25-27 rows. Ventrals 220-257 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 
22-28 pairs. Uniform dark brown or black. 
Total length 560 millim. ; tail 35. 
West Africa, from the Gold Coast to the Congo; Central Africa. 
VOL, III. 21 
