DIVISION OPISTHOGLYPHA. 121 



Genus TRIMERORHINUS. 



Two Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Eye as long as its distance from the nostril . . Trimerorhinus rhombeatiis. 

 Eye shorter than its distance from the nostril Trimerorhinus trittsniatus. 



1. Trimerorhinus rhombeatus. Rhombic or Spotted Schaapsteker ; 



Bont Schaapsteker. 



Synonyms — Coluber rhombeatus ; Psammophis longementalis. 



Colour — Colouration variable. Greyish, yellowish or pale olive-brown 

 above, with brown black-edged markings which may form 

 three or four longitudinal series of round or rhomboidal spots, 

 or be partially or entirely confluent into three undulous or 

 straight longitudinal bands ; a yellow vertebral line sometimes 

 present ; a dark band on each side of the head passing through 

 the eye, widening behind and often joining its fellow on the 

 occiput, sometimes broken up into spots ; upper lip yellowish- 

 white, uniform or with black spots ; tail with three dark stripes ; 

 lower parts white, dotted or spotted with bluish grey or black. 



Average length — 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches. Attains a length of 3 feet. 



Distribution — Both provinces of Cape Colony ; Orange Free State ; 

 Transvaal ; South West Africa ; Southern Rhodesia ; Angola. 



2. Trimerorhinus trit.^eniatus. Striped Schaapsteker ; Streep or 



Gestreepte Schaapsteker. 



Synon^mi — -Rhagcrrhis tritcBniatus. 



Colour — Greyish or pale brown above, with two or three dark brown, 

 black-edged bands originating on the head and extending to 

 the end of the tail, the outer passing through the eye, the verte- 

 bral sometimes rather indistinct or absent ; a fine yellowish 

 line sometimes divides the vertebral band ; the sides below 

 the bands white with a pale brown or red streak running along 

 the outer row of scales ; upper lip and lower parts white. 



Average length — 2 feet 6 inches. 



Distribution — Occurs all over South Africa ; Common near Port 

 Elizabeth ; North to the Equator. 



Genus RHAMPHIOPHIS. 

 A single Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Snout short, pointed. Scales in 17 rows. 

 Ventrals 155-168. Anal divided. 



Sub-caudals 31-40. Rostral large . . Rhamphiophis multimaculatus. 

 I. Rhamphiophis multimaculatus. Damaraland Many-spotted Snake ; 

 Stippel Slang. 

 Synonym — Coroiiella multimaculatus ; Dipsida multimaculata ; Rhagcr- 

 rhis multimaculata. 

 Colour — Pale buff or sandy grey above, with three or five scries of 

 regular brown spots, the vertebrals broader than long ; a \- 

 shaped brown marking on the occiput ; an oblique brown 

 streak behind the eye ; lower parts white. 

 Average length — i foot 6 inches to 2 feet. 



Distribution — Northern parts of Cape Colony ; Orange Free State ; 

 South West Africa. 



