or Uttle-hnown South-African Reptiles. 141 



Elapsoidea Decosteri, sp. n. 



Closely allied to E. SundevalUi^ Smith. Snout pointed, 

 projecting ; suture between the internasals half as long as that 

 between the preefrontals ; frontal as long as its distance from 

 the end of the snout, much longer than broad ; parietals as 

 long as their distance from the rostral ; one praj- and two 

 postoculars ; temporals 1 + 2 ; seven upper labials, sixth 

 largest, second in contact with the praifrontal, third and 

 fourth entering the eye ; four lower labials in contact with 

 the chin-shields, of which the posterior pair is a little longer 

 than the anterior. Scales in thirteen rows. Ventrals 1^8; 

 anal undivided ; subcaudals 25 pairs. Dark grey above, each 

 scale edged with black ; uniform white inferiorly. 



Total length 45 centim. ; tail 5. 



A single specimen ; Delagoa Bay. Presented by M. J. 

 De Coster to the South-African Museum. 



Vipera Peringueyij sp. n. 



Head very distinct from neck, slightly longer than broad, 

 truncate anteriorly ; nostrils and eyes turned upwards ; upper 

 head-scales strongly keeled, smallest on the vertex ; nostril 

 ])ierced between three scales, the upper of which is large and 

 separated from its fellow by two scales and from the rostral 

 by two series of scales ; one series of scales between the labials 

 and the lower nasals ; eye small, surrounded by a circle of 

 eleven small subequal scales ; eight scales in a transverse 

 series between the eyes ; three series of scales between the 

 eye and the labials ; rostral small, broad, crescentic ; eleven 

 U])per and as many lower labials; mental triangular; first 

 lower labial forming a suture Avith its fellow behind the 

 mental ; one pair of mentals, separated from the first ventral 

 by four series of smooth scales. Scales elliptic, keeled, 

 except the two outer series on each side, in twenty-five rows. 

 Ventrals 132; subcaudals transversely enlarged and smooth, 

 two anterior undivided and 26 pairs. Pale buff above, with 

 three longitudinal series of grey spots, the outer ocellar, 

 enclosing a white centre ; sides cream-colour, spotted with 

 grey ; belly cream-colour, with a few brown dots ; end of 

 tail black. 



Total length 250 millim. ; tail 27. 



A single specimen, obtained by Mr. Peringuey in Damara- 

 land, 10 miles east of Walfisch Bay. 



