Snakes of Tropical Africa. 323 



first of a large and broad rostral shield, which in front is 

 compressed into a horizontal edge. Then follow two pairs of 

 frontals, the anterior of which are transversely narrow ; the 

 posterior large, in contact with the third labial and forming 

 the front margin of the orbit. Vertical broad, subquadran- 

 gular, with an obtuse angle in front and an acute one behind ; 

 occipitals rather narrow and elongate, forming a suture with 

 the fifth labial. Upper labials six, of which the first two are 

 small, situated below the nasal ; the third and fourth enter the 

 orbit, the fifth is the largest and succeeded by a sixth very 

 small one. The supraciliary is very small and the single 

 postocular minute. One large temporal occupies the hinder 

 part of the temple. The first pair of lower labials form a 

 suture together in the median line, and are succeeded by a 

 single pair of small and narrow chin-shields; the fourth 

 lower labial exceeds the others considerably in extent. Ven- 

 tral shields 204 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 26. 



The upper parts of this snake are uniform black, the lower 

 parts and the three outer series of scales white. 



The largest of three specimens is 15^ inches long, the tail 

 measuring 1^ inch. 



Three specimens were obtained at Mpwapwa. 



The figure of the head is twice the natural size. 



Calamelaps miolepis^ sp. n. 



In the pholidosis of the head this species agrees entirely 

 with Calamelajjs unicolor, and, like that species, it is of a 

 uniform deep black colour ; but the scales are arranged in 

 twenty-one series instead of seventeen. Ventral scutes 205 ; 

 subcaudals 18; anal bifid. 



One specimen, 16 inches long, was obtained at Cape 

 Maclear on Lake Nyassa. 



Elapomorphus acanthias^ Kroy. 



This species is not always ornamented with longitudinal 

 bands. The British Museum possesses two specimens from 

 Old Calabar, one of wliich has the body uniform black, with 

 yellowish abdomen, and the other nearly so, although in 

 certain lights the bands may be seen. In all the head is of 

 a lighter colour than the trunk, marbled with brown. 



Ventral and subcaudal scutes 210 -f 18. 



Elapomorphus coecutt'ens, sp. n. (PL XIX. fig. B.) 

 This species is distinguished from its African congeners by 



