516 VIPERID&, 
postocular ; a large temporal, 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 
251-300; anal entire; subcaudals 18-24, single. Uniform dark 
brown or black. 
Total length 650 millim. ; tail 30. 
West and Central Africa. 
a. Hgr. (Sc. 21; V. 276; W. Africa. Prof. Grant [P.]. 
C. 18). (Type.) 
b é pg 19; V. 251; Ashantee. Sir A. Smith [P.}. 
. 22). 
e. é 6 21; V. 256; Wegbe, Togoland. W.G. Innes, Esq. [C.]. 
. 22). 
d. BB cog 21; V. 273; Lagos. 
"ef. 2(Se.19; V. 282; 150 miles up the Niger. W. H. Crosse, Esq. 
C.19) & yg. (Se. 19; Pas 
V. 277; C. 24). 
gy: ¥ (Se. 19; V. 800; Wadelai. Dr. Emin Pasha [P.}. 
- 19). 
h, Skull of e. 
8. Atractaspis dahomeyensis. 
Atractaspis dahomeyensis, Bocage, Jorn. Sc. Lisb. xi. 1887, p. 196, 
and Herp, Angola, p. 144 (1895). 
Snout prominent and cuneiform, as in A. rostrata. One pre- 
ocular ; postocular absent, fused with the supraocular ; a large 
anterior temporal ; five upper labials, third and fourth entering the 
eye; symphysial in contact with the chin-shields ; third lower labial 
very large. Scales in 31 rows. Ventrals 240; anal entire; sub- 
caudals 24, partly single, partly divided. Black above, brown 
beneath, the ventral shields edged with lighter. 
Total length 490 millim. ; tail 32. 
Dahomey. 
9. Atractaspis micropholis. 
Atractaspis corpulentus (non Hallow.), Giinth. Ann. §& Mag. N. H. 
(3) xviii. 1866, p. 29. 
—— micropholis, Giinth. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (4) ix. 1872, p. 36, 
pl. iii. fig. E; F. Miill, Verh, Nat. Ges. Basel, viii. 1887, p. 278. 
Snout very short, prominent, cuneiform. Rostral large, the portion 
visible from above as long as its distance from the frontal; suture 
between the internasals as long as that between the prefrontals ; 
frontal slightly longer than broad, much longer than its distance 
from the end of the snout, much longer than the parietals; 
one pree- and one postocular; temporals small, scale-like, 2+3 or 
4; six upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye, fourth 
scarcely larger than third, fifth and sixth small; first lower labial 
forming a suture with its fellow behind the symphysial ; three or 
four lower labials in contact with the chin-shields, Scales in 25 
