DIVISION OPISTHOGLYPHA. 127 



Genus DISPHOLIDUS. 



This Genus is represented by one Species. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales keeled in 19 or 21 rows. Eye very large. See 



synopsis of genera of Dipsadomorphinae . . . . Dispholidus typtis 



I. Dispholidus typus. Tree Snake or Boomslang. 



Synonyms^B lice phaliis typus ; Dispholidns lalandii ; Bucephalus 



capensis ; Dendrophis pseudodipsas. 

 Colour — The colour is variable. The colourations of the various varieties 

 are as follows : — 



A. Brown above, upper lip and lower parts yellowish or greyish ; 



young with darker and lighter spots, and the belly speckled 

 with brown. 



B. Olive-brown above, yellowish beneath, scales and shields edged 



with blackish. 



C. Green above, uniform, or scales narrowly edged with black. 



D. Green or olive above, all the scales and shields edged with black ; 



head often much spotted with black. 



E. Black above, each scale with a yellowish or greenish spot ; head 



spotted or marked with black ; ventrals and sub-caudals yellowish 

 edged with black. 



F. Uniform black above, blackish grey beneath. 



G. Brownish-black above. Light yellow beneath. The abdominal 



shields blotched with dark brown on their sides, and edged with 



a narrow line of brown. 

 Average length — 4 to 5 feet. Some specimens attain a length of 7 feet. 

 Distribution — Common all over South Africa in bush-clad localities; 



North to Tropical Africa. 



Genus AMBLYODIPSAS. 



This Genus is represented by one Species. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales in 15 rows. No internasals ; sub-caudals in two rows; head 

 small, not distinct from neck. Refer to synopsis of the genera of 

 the sub-family Dipsadomorphinae. 

 I. Amblyodipsas microphthalma. The White-lipped Snake. 

 Synonym — Calamaria microphthalma. 



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

 ends of ventrals, and lower surface of head and tail white ; a 

 dark brown stripe along the middle of the belly. 

 Average length — i foot 6 inches. 

 Distribution — Zululand ; Portuguese East Africa. 



Genus CALAMELAPS. 



Two Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales in 19 rows ; ventrals 161-174 . . . . . . Calamelaps warreni. 



Scales in 17 rows ; ventrals 133-134 . . . . . . Calamelaps concolor. 



I. Calamelaps warreni. Warren's Snake. 



Colour — Uniform plumbeous grey. 



Average length — i foot. 



Distribution — Zululand. 



