THE SOLID-TOOTHED SNAKES. 87 



Ventrals with distinct lateral keels. Two labials 



entering the eye ; usually two superposed 



anterior temporals ; sub-caudals 114-140 .. Chlorophis natalensis. 

 Ventrals with distinct lateral keels. Three labials 



entering the eye ; sub-caudals 94-133 .. Chlorophis irregularis. 



1. Chlorophis hoplogaster. Green Water Snake ; Groen Water Slang. 

 Synonyms — Ahcetulla hoplogaster; Chlorophis oldhami ; Plthothamnus 



hoplogaster. 

 Colour — Uniform bright green, sometimes with an olive tinge above ; 



greenish-yellow on the underparts. 

 Average length — 3 feet. 

 Distribution — -Cape Colony; O. F. S., Transvaal; Natal; Zululand ; 



Rhodesia ; East and Central Africa. 



2. Chlorophis neglectus. East African Green Snake. 

 Synonyms — Pithothamnus neglectus ; AhcBtulla neglecta. 



Colour — Green above ; greenish-yellow beneath. Some specimens have 

 purplish-brown blotches on the anterior part of the body. 



Average length — 3 feet. 



Distribution — Southern Rhodesia ; East Africa ; British Central 

 Africa. 



3. Chlorophis natalensis. Natal Green Snake ; Natalsche Groen Slang. 

 Synonyms— 'Dendrophis natalensis ; Philothammis iiataloisis. 



Colour — Olive-green above, usually some of the scales with a white spot 

 on the outer border, and the skin between the scales black ; 

 greenish white below. 



Average length — 3 feet. 



Distribution^Generally distributed over South Africa ; North to Central 

 Africa. 



4. Chlorophis irregularis. Northern Green Snake; Noordelijke Groen 



Slang. 



Synonyms — Coluber irregularis ; Philothamnus irregularis ; Philotham- 

 nus guentheri. 



Colour — Green or olive above, scales often with a white spot at the 

 base, with or without a black upper border ; skin between the 

 scales black ; sometimes with black spots or irregular cross-bands 

 on the anterior part of the body ; greenish-yellow below. 



Average length — -3 feet. 



Distribution — Southern Rhodesia ; North to Tropical Africa, 



Genus PHILOTHAMNUS. 



A single Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals 169-207, anal 

 divided. Sub-caudals keeled and 

 notched . . . . . . . . . . Philothamnus semivariegatus. 



I. Philothamnus semivariegatus. Bush Snake ; Bosch Slang. 



Synonyms — Philothamnus punctatus ; Dendrophis semivariegatus ; Abce- 



tulla bocagii ; Leptophis punctatus. 

 Colour — Green or olive above, with or without black spots or cross-bars ; 

 greenish-yellow below. 



