128 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



2. Calamelaps concolor. Purple-glossed Snake. 



Synonyms — Choristodon concolor ; Calamelaps mironi. 



Colour — Greenish black above, with a purple gloss ; pale blackish 



purple beneath, the shields margined behind with livid white. 

 Average length — i foot. 

 Distribution — Natal, Caffraria. 



Genus MACRELAPS. 



There is only one Species in this Genus. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Scales in 25 or 27 rows ; no preocular. Refer to synopsis of the genera 



of the sub-family Dipsadomorphinae. 

 I. Macrelaps microlepidotus. Natal Black Snake; Zwart Slang. 



Synonym — Uriechis microlepidotus. 



Colour — Uniform black. 



Average length — 2 feet 6 inches. 



Distribution — Eastern parts of Cape Colony ; Natal. 



A. guentheri (side view). A. guentheri (top of head). 



Genus APARALLACTUS. 



Two Species in South Africa. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Nasal divided ; ventrals 153-180 . . . . Aparallactus guentheri. 



Nasal entire ; ventrals 138-166 . . . . Aparallactus capensis. 



1. Aparallactus GUENTHERI. Guenther's Snake. 



Synonym — Uriechis capensis. 



Colour — Blackish brown above, a little lighter beneath ; chin and 

 throat yellowish white ; a deep black collar, edged with yellowish 

 white in front and behind, narrowly interrupted on the throat. 



Average length — i foot. 



Distribution — Southern Rhodesia ; Angola ; East and Central Africa. 



2. Aparallactus CAPENSIS. Black-headed Snake; Zwart-kop lang. 

 Synonyms — Elapomorphus capensis ; Uriechis capetisis. 



Colour — Yellow or pale reddish brown above, with or without a blackish 

 vertebral hne, yellowish white beneath ; upper surface of head 

 and nape black, with or without a yellowish cross-bar behind 

 the parietal shields, the black of the nape descending to the 

 sides of the neck ; sides of head yellowish, the shields bordering 

 the eye, black. 



Average length — i foot. 



Distribution — Eastern parts of Cape Colony ; Orange Free State ; Basuto 

 land ; Zululand ; Transvaal ; Southern Rhodesia ; East Africa. 



