324 Dr. A. Giinther on the 



the remarkably small size of the eye, and especially from 

 Elapomorphus gahonicus by the elongate first lower labials, 

 which form a suture in the median line behind the mentale. 

 Head short, broad and depressed. Upper labials seven, of 

 which the third and fourth enter the orbit ; pra30cularone; post- 

 ocular one, rarely two. Temporals 1 + 1, the anterior in contact 

 with the postocular. Scales in fifteen rows. Ventral scutes 

 231 ; subcaudals 17 or 18 ; anal bifid. The orbit is but little 

 larger than the depression of the nasal aperture. Upper and 

 lateral parts uniform dark slate-coloured, lower parts white. 



Two specimens from the Cameroon Mountains (altitude 

 2000 feet) , the larger being 20 inches long. 



Uriechis capensis^ Smith. 



This species is distinguished by the very large mentale, 

 which separates widely the two anterior labials from each 

 other. Specimens from Zanzibar agree entirely with Jan's 

 figure, the fifth labial being in contact with the occipital ; but 

 a specimen from Nyassa has the body uniform black, the 

 nuchal white and black bands being present as in the typical 

 form. This latter specimen has also a longer tail, with 58 

 subcaudals (and 151 abdominal scutes). The Zanzibar 

 specimens vary somewhat in these numbers, viz. 13l*-153 

 ventral and 41-46 subcaudal scutes. 



Uriechis lunulatus^ Ptrs. 



Although closely allied to Uriechis capensis^ this species 

 may be readily distinguished by the much smaller and shorter 

 mentale, which allows the lower labials of the first pair to 

 meet each other in the median line, but without forming so 

 long and distinct a suture as in Uriechis concoJor. The head 

 is rather broad and depressed. The anteocular about as deep 

 as long. Seven upper labials, of which the third and fourth 

 enter the orbit ; the fifth only forms a suture with the occi- 

 pital ; one postocular. Temporals 1+2, the anterior not 

 meeting the postocular. Scales in fifteen rows. 



One specimen, 13 inches long, is light olive-coloured, each 

 scale with a brown edge ; the neck is ornamented by a broad 

 black cross bar, which at a distance of seven scales is suc- 

 ceeded by a similar but narrower band ; a series of about ten 

 black cross bars follow, becoming narrower and shorter be- 

 hind ; lower parts whitish. 154 ventral and 59 subcaudal 

 scutes. — Lake Nyassa. 



A second specimen is 15 inches long. The ground-colour 



