126 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



9. PsAMMOPHis cRuciFER. Crosscd Grass Snake ; Kruis Gras Slang. 



Synonym — Coluber crucifer. 



Colour— Pale olive or brownish above, with a black-edged dark verte- 

 bral band, three scales wide which extends to the head, giving oil 

 one or two transverse bars on the nape, and enclosing a light 

 spot or streak on the suture between the parietal shields ; sides 

 of head with large dark blotches, the pre- and postoculars 

 yellowish ; a more or less distinct band along each side of the 

 body, with a white streak below it on the lower half of the outer 

 row of scales and the outer ends of the vcntrals ; lower parts 

 yellow or reddish orange, uniform or iinely speckled with blackish 

 with a dark streak or series of small spots on each side. 



Average length — 2 feet. 



Distrilaution — Both provinces of Cape Colony ; Basutoland ; Natal ; 

 Zululand ; Orange Free State ; Transvaal. 



10. PSAMMOPHIS ANGOLENSIS. 



Synonyms — Amphiophis angolensis ; Coluber crucifer; Ablabes home 

 yeri ; Dromophis angolensis. 



Colour — Pale olive above, with a dark olive or blackish vertebral 

 stripe three scales wide, finely edged with black and yellow ; 

 head dark olive in front ; blackish behind, with three yellow 

 transverse lines, the first behind the eyes, the third behind 

 the parietal shields ; two black cross-bands may be present on 

 the nape of the neck, separated by a yellowish interspace ; 

 labials and preoculars yellowish white ; one or two more or 

 less distinct dark lines or series of dots along each side ; lower 

 parts whitish. 



Average length — 2 feet. 



Distribution — Orange Free State; Angola; East and Central Africa. 



Genus THELOTORNIS. 

 This Genus is represented by one Species. 

 KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales in 19 rows, feebly keeled. Ventrals 1 47-1 81. Anal divided 

 Sub-caudals 11 7-1 70. Pupil horizontal; eye large; body slender. 

 Tail very long and slender. 

 I. Thelotornis kirtlandii. Bird Snake ; Vogelvreter Slang. 

 Synonym — Leptophis kirtlandii. 



Colour — Greyish or pinkish-brown above, uniform or with more or less 

 distinct darker and lighter spots and cross bands ; head green 

 above, with or without some patches of pinkish, speckled with 

 black and a pinkish black-dotted streak on each side of the head, 

 passing through the eye ; upper lip cream-colour or pink, uniform 

 or spotted with black ; one or several black blotches on each 

 side of the neck ; greyish or pinkish beneath, speckled or striated 

 with brown. 



There are two varieties, which are coloured as follows : — 



A. Head uniform green above and on the sides ; black 

 blotches usually forming cross bands on the neck. 



B. Head with black dots above and on the sides ; no cross 

 bands on the neck. 



Average length — 4 feet. 



Distribution — All over South Africa in forest clad parts, excepting Cape 

 Colony ; Northwards to East and Tropical Africa. 



I 



