Dr. A. Giinther on a new Snake Jrom West Africa. 239 



II. Loioerjaw very feeble ; teeth minute, 



1 . The pectoral extending to, or beyond, the origin of 



the dorsal fin. 8. Grmji. 



2. The pectoral terminating at a considerable distance 



from the origin of the dorsal fin. S. Colii. 



On Atheris Burtonii, a New Snake from West Africa. 

 By Dr. Albert Gttnther. 



A collection made by Major Burton, H. M. Consul in Fernando 

 Po, during an excursion in the Camaroon country, contained several 

 species of Snakes, namely, Grayia triangularis, DryiophisKirtlandii, 

 a brood of newly-born Clotho nasicornis*, and, finally, a specimen of 

 a Snake distinguished by its form, scales, and shields, and by a colo- 

 ration which is almost unique in the whole order of Ophidians. I 

 had named this genus Poecilostolus (Ann. «& Mag. Nat. Hist, Jan. 

 1863) ; but having since received the last part of ' Proc. Acad. Nat. 

 Sc. Philad. 1862, I find that Mr. Cope has already proposed the 

 generic name oi Atheris for congeners of our species (p. 337). 



Atheris. 



Head thick, broad, triangular, covered above with strongly-keeled 

 scales ; body compressed ; tail prehensile. Scales keeled. Sub- 

 caudal shields entire. 



Atheris Burtonii. 



The head and neck are rough, in consequence of the keels of the 

 single scales forming prominent spines. The rostral shield is very 

 low, linear, with other scale-like shields above ; nine upper labials. 

 Nostril in the middle of a single subquadrangular plate, situated 

 above the first labial ; eye surrounded by a ring of subequal scales ; 

 chin-shields scale-like, keeled, except the anterior pair, which are 

 smooth ; the posterior labial shields of the lower jaw keeled. Scales 

 of the body in nineteen rows. Ventral shields 163; anal entire; 

 subcaudals 58. 



Entirely lemon-coloured ; some greenish scales are scattered about 

 on the upper surface of the body. 



Total length 14 inches ; head f inch ; tail 2| inches. 



Note on Diemennia superciliosa. By Dr. A. Gttnther. 



The Proceedings of this Society of last yearf contain a very inter- 

 esting observation of Mr. Krefft, of Sydney, according to which a 

 small banded Snake, which he identifies with Furina textilis, Dum. 

 & Bibr., is merely the young of a very large species, the adult of 

 which is of a nearly uniform coloration. Mr. Krefft (who, for the 

 benefit of the collection entrusted to his care, is very anxious to have 

 his specimens identified with the types contained in European col- 



* There is also a specimen, in a very bad state of preservation, which appears 

 to belong to Neusterophis Icsvissima {Natrix lavissima, Gthr.). 

 t ' Annals,' Nov. 1862, p. 393. 



