120 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



Genus LEPTODIRA. 

 A single Species in South Africa. 

 KEY TO THE SPECIES. 

 Anal entire ; scales in 19 (exceptionally 17) rows ; 



ventrals 144-180 ; sub-caudals 32-54 .. Leptodira hotamhccia. 



I. Leptodira hotambceia. The Herald or Red-lipped Snake; Roode- 

 lip Slang. (Rooi-lip Slang.) 

 Colour — ^Brown, olive or blackish above, uniform or with whitish 

 dots, like fly's eggs, more apparent when skin is stretched. A 

 black band on the temple, usually connected with its fellow 

 across the occiput ; upper lip bright red, or orange red ; under- 

 parts whitish. 

 Average length — 2 feet. 



Distribution — General all over South Africa ; North through Tropical 

 .Africa to Senegambia and Nubia. 



Genus CHAM^TORTUS. 



This Genus is represented by only one Species. 



{For scientific description see the Synopsis of Genera of the Dipsadomorphina; .) 



I. Cham-jetortus aulicus. The Cross-barred Snake. 



Colour — -Brown above, the back with numerous whitish, dark-edged 

 cross-bars, the sides spotted with whitish ; head whitish, spotted 

 and marbled with brown, and with a brown streak on each 

 side passing through the eye ; labials edged with brown ; 

 beneath white. 



Average length — 2 feet 6 inches. 



Distribution — Transvaal ; Southern Rhodesia ; Portuguese East Africa ; 

 East and Central Africa. 



Genus AMPLORHINUS. 



A single Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales in 17 rows, feebty keeled on the 

 posterior part of the back and at the 

 base of ttie tail. Ventrals 133-149 ; 

 anal entire ; sub-caudals 60-86. Ros- 

 tral moderate ; nostril in single semi- 

 divided nasal . . . . . . . . Amplorhinus multimaculatus. 



I. Amplorhinus multimaculatus. Cape Many-spotted Snake ; Kaapsche 

 Stippel Slang. 

 Colour — Olive or brown above, with two more or less distinct yellowish 

 stripes and longitudinal rows of black spots ; bluish-grey or 

 olive beneath. Some specimens uniform bright green above, 

 and lighter green beneath. 

 Average length — i foot 6 inches. 

 Distribution — Cape Colony; Transvaal (High veld). 



