120 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



Genus LEPTODIRA. 

 A single Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Anal entire ; scales in 19 (exceptionally 17) rows ; 



ventrals 144-180 ; sub-caudals 32-54 . . Leptodira hotamhceia. 



I. Leptodira hotambceia. The Herald or Red-lipped Snake; Roode- 

 lip Slang. (Rooi-lip Slang.) 

 Colour — Brown, olive or blackish above, uniform or with whitish 

 dots, like fly's eggs, more apparent when skin is stretched. A 

 black band on the temple, usually connected with its fellow 

 across the occiput ; upper lip bright red, or orange red ; under- 

 parts whitish. 

 Average length — 2 feet. 



Distribution — General all over South Africa ; North through Tropical 

 Africa to Senegambia and Nubia. 



Genus CHAM^TORTUS. 



This Genus is represented by only one Species. 

 [For scientific description see the Synopsis of Genera of the Dipsadomorphincs.) 



I. Cham^tortus aulicus. The Cross-barred Snake. 



Colour — Brown above, the back with numerous whitish, dark-edged 

 cross-bars, the sides spotted with whitish ; head whitisli, spotted 

 and marbled witli brown, and with a brown streak on each 

 side passing through the eye ; labials edged with brown ; 

 beneath white. 



Average length — 2 feet 6 inches. 



Distribution — Transvaal ; Southern Rhodesia ; Portuguese East Africa ; 

 East and Central Africa. 



Genus AMPLORHINUS. 



A single Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales in 17 rows, feebl}'^ keeled on the 

 posterior part of the back and at the 

 base of the tail. Ventrals 133-149; 

 anal entire ; sub-caudals 60-86. Ros- 

 tral moderate ; nostril in single semi- 

 divided nasal .. .. .. .. Aniplorliiiuis nntltiniaculalits. 



I. Amplorhinus MULTiMACULATus. Cape Many-spottcd Snake ; Kaapsche 



Stippel Slang. 

 Colour — Olive or brown above, with two more or less distinct yellowish 



stripes and longitudinal rows of black spots ; bluish-grey or 



olive beneath. Some specimens uniform bright green above, 



and lighter green beneath. 

 Average length — i foot 6 inches. 

 Distribution — Cape Colony ; Transvaal (High veld). 



