THE SOLID-TOOTHED SNAKES. 83 



Ablarophis rufulus. Olive-brown Water Snake; Olyfen-Bruin Water 



Slang. 

 Synonym — Coronella rufiila. 

 Colour — Uniform dark olive-brown or blackish above ; upper lip and 



lower parts, light pink. 

 Average length — 2 feet, to 2 feet 6 inches. 

 Distribution — Occurs all over South Africa. Has not been recorded 



north of the Zambesi. 



Genus LAMPROPHIS. 



Four Species in this genus, all of which inhabit South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales in 23 rows. Internasals a little shorter 



than the prefrontals ; loreal a little longer 



than deep. Two pairs of chin shields . . Lamprophis aurora. 



Scales in 23 rows. Internasals much shorter 



than the prefrontals ; loreal at least nearly 



twice as long as deep . . . . . . . . Lamprophis inornatus. 



Scales in 23 rows. Internasals longer than the 



prefrontals ; loreal as long as deep, or a 



little longer than deep. A single pair of chin 



shields .. .. .. .. .. .. Lamprophis fiskii. 



Scales in 19 rows .. .. .. .. .. Lamprophis fuscus. 



1. Lamprophis aurora. The Night Snake ; Nacht Slang. 

 Synonym — Coluber aurora. 



Colour — Olive or pale brown above, uniform or speckled with black ; 

 the scales of the vertebral series bright yellow or orange ; lower 

 parts white ; yellow streak along each side entire length of body. 



Average length — 2 feet. 



Distribution — Both provinces of Cape Colony ; O. F. S., Transvaal. 



2. Lamprophis inornatus. The Brown Snake ; Bruin Slang. 

 Colour — Uniform brown above ; brownish white below. 

 Average length — i foot 6 inches. 



Distribution — Both Provinces of Cape Colony. 



3. Lamprophis fiskii. Fisk's Snake. 



Colour — Lemon yellow on the five median rows of scales, with large 

 blackish-brown spots forming a single series anteriorly, a double 

 alternating series posteriorly. Head lemon yellow above, with 

 symmetrical blackish-brown markings, viz. an oblique band 

 on each side of the occiput, a horseshoe-shaped band passing 

 through the eyes and across the snout, and a bar across the 

 frontal. Lateral scales of body and tail brown in the centre 

 and yellowish-white on the borders. Upper lip and lower parts 

 white. 



Average length — i foot 6 inches. 



Distribution — Western Province of Cape Colony. 



4. Lamprophis fuscus. The Yellow-lipped Snake ; Geel-lip Slang. 

 Colour — Uniform brown above ; upper lip, two outer rows of scales and 



lower parts yellowish. 

 Average length — -2 feet. 

 Distribution — Western Province of Cape Colony. 



