SNAKES OP SOUTH AFRICA. 173 



of the body; anterior maxillary teeth but slightly larger than 



the others. Lamprophis. 



Nostril between two nasals ; 23 or more scales across the 

 middle of the body ; anterior teeth considerably larger than 



the others. Boodon. 



V. Elapid^. Head with large symmetrical shields. Belly shielded. 

 Long grooved or canaliculate maxillary fangs anteriorly. Poisonous. 



A. Eye large or moderate. 



1. Rostral shield not of unusual proportions. 



a. Dorsal scales smooth. 

 Anal shield single. -.-.... Naia. 

 Anal divided ; colour green. - - - Dendraspis. 



h. Dorsal scales keeled. 

 Two labial shields enter the eye; scales strongly keeled. 



Sepkdon. 



Eye separated from the labials by a subocular shield; dorsal 



scales feebly keeled, laterals smooth. - - . Causus. 



2. Rostral shield enormous, triangular. - - Aspidelaps. 



B. Eye very small. 



13 or 15 scales across the body. - - . . Elaps. 



21 or more scales across the body ; colour uniform blackish. 



Atractaspis. 

 VI. ViPERiD^. Upper surface of head covered with small scales. Pupil 

 vertical, linear. Poisonous. 



A single genus. • - - ■ - . . Vipkra. 



1. StENOSTOMATIDjE. 



1. Stenostoma, Wagl. 

 1. Stenostoma nigricans, Schleg. ; Durn. & Bibr. vi. p. 326 ; 

 Smith, 111. pi. li. fig. 4, pi. liv. figs. 21, 25 ; Jan, Icon. 2, v. & vi. 8. 

 S. conjunctinn, Jan, Icon. 2, v. & vi. 9. " Inhabits the interior 

 of South Africa, and is generally found under large flat stones, 

 or other bodies lying on the surface of the e^-th." — Smith. 

 Port Elizabeth (B. M.) 



II. Typhlopid^. 



2. Typhloijs, Schn. 



A. 28 to 32 scales round the middle of the body; snout with 



angular edge. 

 Eye entirely under the ocular; edge of snout sharp, cutting. - delalandli. 

 Eye under the suture between the ocular and the praeocular. - hibronii. 



B. 20 to 2(3 scales round the body; snout rounded. 



Upper part of rostral shield broader than the contiguous (nasal) shields ; 

 nasal semidivided ; eye entirely under the ocular. - - verticalls. 



