Elapine Snakes from the Congo. 15 



lower surface of head brownish white, belly and lower surfcice 

 of tail blackish. 



Total length 465 mm.; tail 90. 



A single young specimen. 



We are now acquainted with four species of the genus 

 Boidengerina, DoUo, for the determination of which the 

 following key may be used : — 



A. Rostral nearly as deep as broad; temporals 1 + -; three upper 



labials in contact with the lower subocular. 



Scales in 23 rows B. annulata, Biichh. k Ptrs. 



Scales in 21 rows B. Stonnsi, Dollo. 



B. Rostral much broader than deep; temporals 2+2 or 2-\-3; two 



lower labials in contact with the lower subocular. 



Scales in 23 rows B. Dyhoivskii, Mocq. 



Scales in 17 rows B. Christiji, Blgr. 



Elapechis Duttoni. 



Snout very broadly rounded. Eye as long as its distance 

 from the nostril. Rostral broader than deep, the portion 

 visible from above measuring about one third its distance 

 from the frontal ; internasals a little shorter than the pre- 

 frontals ; frontal slightly longer than broad, as long as its 

 distance from the end of the snout, two thirds the length of 

 the parietals ; posterior nasal in contact with the single prre- 

 ocular ; three postoculars ; temporals 1 + 3; seven ui)per 

 labials, third and fourth entering the eye, sixth largest; fonr 

 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which 

 are separated from the symphysial; posterior chin-shields a 

 little longer than the anterior. Scales very oblique, in 15 

 rows on the body, in 17 on the neck. Ventrals 150 ; anal 

 entire ; subcaudals 31 pairs. Pale brownish above, each 

 scale with a black spot ; a large black blotch on the head, 

 descending as a bar on the temple, and followed by a whitish 

 occipital transverse band ; a black bar on the snout, con- 

 necting the nostrils, and a black spot below the eye ; upper 

 lip whitish, with the sutures between some of the shields 

 black ; lower parts whitish, the subcaudal shields edged with 

 black. 



Total length 520 mm. ; tail 70. 



A single specimen, apparently a male. 



This very distinct species is more nearly related to E. niger^ 

 Gthr., from Zanzibar, than to any other. 



