PROTEROGLYPHA OR FRONT-FANGED SNAKES. 165 



C. Dark olive to black above ; lower surface of head and neck black ; 



sub-caudals and posterior ventrals black, the remainder black 



and yellow. 

 Average length — 5 to 6 feet ; attains a length of over 7 feet. 

 Distribution — All over South Africa, excepting the Southern parts of 



Cape Colony ; Northwards to Senegambia and Upper Egypt. 



Genus SEPEDON. 



This Genus is represented by one Species. 



Scales strongly keeled, without pits, in 19 rows ; 

 ventrals 11 6-1 50; anal entire. Sub-caudals 

 33—44 .. .. .. .. .. . .Sepedon hcBtnachates. 



r. Sepedon h^machates. The Ringhals or Spitting Snake ; Ringhals 

 Slang. 

 Synonyms — Coluber hcemachates ; Vipera hcBniachaies ; Naja hcsma- 



chaetes ; Aspidelaps hcemachates. 

 Colour — Black above, spotted, variegated or irregularly barred with 

 pale brown or yellowish-white ; or brown spotted with black ; 

 black beneath, usually with one or two whitish cross bands on 

 the neck. 

 A. Jet black above and below, with a white cross band on the throat. 

 Sometimes the white band is entirely absent, or else only slightly 

 developed. 

 Average length — 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet. Sometimes grows to 4 feet 



in length. 

 Distribution — Cape Colony ; Natal ; Zululand ; Orange Free State ; 

 Basutoland ; South-West Africa ; not recorded from Rhodesia 

 or north of Zambesi. 



Genus ASPIDELAPS. 



Two Species in South Africa. shield Snake (Aspidelaps 



scutatus). Rostral shield very 



■K-PV TO TMTT CTDTTrT-Rt; ^^'^Se and detached on the 



tS.t^Y iU iirl-tL b^ilCXilb. sitjes. Internasals separated 



by the rostral. A, rostral 



Internasals in contact behind the rostral ; third shield. 



and fourth upper labials entering the eye ; 



scales all smooth ; ventrals 146-176 .. Aspidelaps lubricus. 



Internasals separated by the rostral ; fourth 

 upper labial entering the eye ; scales on 

 posterior part of body keeled ; ventrals 

 1 1 5-1 35.. .. .. .. .. .. Aspidelaps scutatus 



I. Aspidelaps LUBRICUS. Coral Snake ; Koraal Slang. 



Synonyms — Matrix lubrica ; Coluber latonia ; Elaps lubricus ; Naja 



lubrica. 

 Colour — Orange or red with black annuli, which are slightly angular 

 on the back ; a black bar below the eye ; sometimes a black 

 cross bar between the eyes, and an oblique band on the temple ; 

 upper surface of head sometimes entirely black. 

 Average length — i foot 6 inches to 2 feet. 



Distribution— Both provinces of Cape Colony ; Orange Free State : 

 South- West Africa ; Rhodesia ; Zambesi Regions. 



