90 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



spots along the anterior two-thirds of the back ; yellowish-white 



below. 

 Average length — i to 2 feet. 

 Distribution — Zululand ; Portuguese East Africa. 



HOMALOSOMA. 



Two Species in South Africa. 

 KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Ventral 1 1 5-1 44 .. .. .. .. .. Homalosoma lutrix. 



Ventrals 97-110 .. .. .. .. .. Homalosoma variegatiim. 



1. Homalosoma LUTRIX. The Homalosoma Snake ; Rooi Slang. 

 Synonyms — Coluber lutrix ; Homalosoma. shiranum. 



Colour — Colouration very variable ; under-parts and lower surface of 

 tail uniform yellowish in the middle, and greyish on the sides, 

 usually with a regular lateral series of black dots. 



The following is the description of the various varieties : — 



A. Pale Brown or yellowish above, with a vertebral series of black 



dots ; greyish olive or plumbeous on the sides, which are limited 

 above by a series of black dots ; lateral ventral dots large. 



B. Reddish brown above, blackish olive on the sides, greyish towards 



the belly ; a fine black vertebral line ; lateral ventral dots large. 



C. Like the preceding, but the vertebral line and the ventral dots 



indistinct. 



D. Uniform olive brown above, passing to greyish on the sides ; the 



lateral ventral dots very small. 



E. Reddish brown or brick red above, grey on the sides ; lateral 



ventral dots well marked. (Eastern Prov. C. C.) 

 Average length — i foot. 

 Distribution — Western and Eastern Provinces of Cape Colony ; Natal ; 



O. F. S. ; Transvaal ; Rhodesia ; North to East and Central 



Africa. 



2. Homalosoma variegatum. The Variegated Snake ; Bont Slang. 

 Colour — The colour varies. 



A. Dark brown above, with irregular lichen-like, brownish-white 



variegation. 



B. Olive-brown above, with three series of dark brown spots. Under- 



parts in both varieties reticulated black and whitish. 

 Average length — i foot. 

 Distribution — Zululand ; Delagoa Bay ; Portuguese East Africa. 



Sub-family RHACHIODONTIN^. 



Genus DASYPELTIS. 



A single Genus in South Africa. 



Scales in 23 to 27 rows, laterals very oblique and with serrated keels ; 



teeth rudimentary. 

 Dasypeltis scabra. The Egg-eating Snake or Eier Vreter, or Eier Slang. 



Synonyms — Coluber scaber ; Anodon typus ; Rachiodon scaber ; Tropi- 

 donotus scaber. Dasypeltis inornata. 



