356 Dr. A. Giinther on new Species of Snakes 



Bothrophthalmus brunneus. PI. VI. fig. E. 



Scales in twenty-three rows ; upper parts of the body and tail 

 uniform brown. 



Body and tail rounded, of moderate length ; head depressed, 

 with a flat crown, of moderate length and width ; the length of 

 the snout equals the width of the interorbital space ; a deep 

 groove before, and a smaller one behind, the eye, which is 

 of moderate size and has a round pupil. Cleft of the mouth 

 wide. Rostral shield as high as broad, just reaching to the 

 upper surface of the snout; anterior frontals small, one-third 

 as large as the posterior, as long as broad; posterior frontals 

 longer than broad. Vertical large, six-sided, with a very 

 obtuse angle in front; occipitals not much longer than the 

 vertical, somewhat pointed behind. Nasals two, the anterior 

 lower than the posterior; loreal long, forming the bottom of 

 the prseocular groove ; preeocular bent, the lower portion form- 

 ing the hinder wall of the groove, the upper being raised on 

 the upper surface of the crown, without touching the vertical ; 

 two postoculars. Eight upper labials, the fourth and fifth 

 entering the orbit. Two small temporals in front, only the 

 upper of which is in contact with the oculars ; then follows a 

 long shield placed alongside the occipital ; two other pairs of 

 small temporals below this long one. Two pairs of elongate 

 chin-shields, the anterior in contact with four labials, and longer 

 than the posterior. Scales in 23 series, keeled. Ventral shields 

 205, not keeled ; anal entire ; 75 pairs of subcaudals. 



The maxillary teeth are closely set, and form a continuous 

 series ; the anterior are the longest, and gradually decrease in 

 size posteriorly. 



Upper parts uniform brown, the lower yellowish. A brownish- 

 red streak runs along the median line of the snout, and is bifur- 

 cate on the vertical shield, the branches terminating on the 

 occipitals; labials with a whitish longitudinal band. 



Fernando Po. Total length 32 inches ; tail 6 inches ; cleft 

 of the mouth 9^ lines. 



Heterodon modestus. 



Scales smooth, in 21 series; ventrals 165; subcaudals 62, all 

 in pairs. Above, uniform light brown ; uniform yellowish below. 

 Madagascar. 



This species agrees in almost every point with H. madagas- 

 cariensis*, but is sufficiently distinguished from it by the cha- 

 racters given. The latter species has 23 series of scales, from 

 207-210 ventral shields, the anterior subcaudals simple, and 



* We have lately received two specimens of this species, together with 

 Herpetodryas quadrilineatus, D. & B.=H. Bernierii, D. & B. 



