84 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



Genus BOODON. 



Four Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales in 23 or 25 rows. Three labials entering the eye. 

 Two postoculars ; preocular not extending to upper 

 surface of head ; ventrals 175-196 .. .. Boodon infer nails. 



Scales in 23 or 25 rows. Three postoculars ; preocular 

 extending to upper surface of head ; ventrals 

 196-210; sub-caudals 72 .. .. .. .. Boodon guttatus. 



Scales in 27 to 33 rows. Ventrals 192-237. Two 

 (rarely three) labials entering the eye ; two pairs 

 of chin shields in contact with each other . . Boodon lineatus. 



Scales in 27 to 33 rows. Three labials entering the 

 eye ; only one pair of chin shields meeting on the 

 median line . . . . . . . . . . . . Boodon mentalis. 



1. Boodon infernalis. Olive House Snake ; Zwart Huis Slang. 

 Colour — Dark olive or black above ; lower parts whitish. 

 Average length — 2 feet 6 inches. 



Distribution — Both provinces of Cape Colony ; Natal ; O. F. S., 

 Transvaal ; Southern Rhodesia ; East Africa. 



2. BooDON GUTTATUS. Spotted House Snake ; Stippel Huis Slang. 

 Synonyms — Lycodon guttatus ; Alopecion annulifer. 



Colour — Yellowish-brown above, with several rows of reddish-brown 

 spots with umber-brown borders, the two rows of spots along 

 the middle of the back almost circular, and largest ; a dark 

 brown blotch on each side of the back of the head, and a pair of 

 dark longitudinal streaks on the nape ; under-parts pale yellow. 



Average length — i foot 6 inches. 



Distribution — Both provinces of Cape Colony. 



3. BooDON LINEATUS. Brown House Snake ; Bruin Huis Slang. 

 Synonyms — Lycodon geometricus ; Boodon geometricus. 



Colour — Uniform brown above, white below. A whitish line (sometimes 

 absent) running from base of head through the eye to the nostril, 

 and a second similar line below the eye. Back sometimes varie- 

 gated with yellowish. The colour varies in different parts of the 

 country more or less. Eye brown with a vertical pupil. 



Average length — 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 6 inches. 



Distribution — Common all over South Africa ; Extends north to Tropical 

 Africa. 



4. Boodon mentalis. Striped House Snake ; Streep Huis Slang. 



Colour — Pale brownish above ; two yellow lines on each side of the 



head ; lower parts white. 

 Average length— i foot 6 inches. 

 Distribution — Damaraland. 



Genus LYCOPHIDIUM. 



Two Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Ventrals 164-208; sub-caudals 30-45 . . Lycophidium capense. 



Ventrals 146—156 ,, 30 . . . . Lycophidium semiannulis. 



I. Lycophidium CAPENSE. Cape Wolf Snake ; Steel Snake. 



Synonyms — Lycodon capensis ; Lycophidion horstockii. 



