AXD BATRACHIA FROM MADAGASCAR. 351 



second very small ; tlie first pair of lower labials forms a median 

 suture. A single pair of rather small cliin-sliields, which form 

 sutures with the first, second, and third lower labials. 



Venti-al scales 195, rounded; anal divided; 31 pairs of 

 subcandals. 



Boly cylindrical, slightly depressed. 



Blue-bLack above, below white with dai-k brown transverse 

 markings on the ventral scales ; throat, lower jaw, and upper lip 

 neai-ly entirely white. 



Total length 414 mm., of which the tail measures 44 mm. 



A burrowing snake foun<l iii sandy soil, north of the Zoutpans- 

 bergen, Northern Transvaal, near the Ingelel Hiver, within 25 

 miles of the Limpopo : collected by Messrs. Xoome and Roberts, 

 in September, 1913 : it was observed to be sluggish in its 

 movements. 



Type in the Transvaal IMuseum, Oat. Rept. No, 1689. 



BATRACHIA. 



Ill 1913 Mr. Hewitt and I published an account of a collection 

 of Batrachia made in Madagascar (2) : I have since been able to 

 compaie many of the specimens referred to in this paper with 

 material in European Museums, and especially with that in the 

 British Museum. I have also been able to profit by the ci-iticisms 

 of Mr. G. A. Boulenger on several specimens I submitted to him. 

 I gladly avail myself of this opportunity' for thanking him for his 

 a.dvice on many occasions, and among othei- things for suggesting 

 the names of the two new genera described below, and for 

 pointing out their affinities to the genus Mantidactijlus. 



Gephykomantis, gen. nov. 

 Vomerine teeth present ; digits with supenuunerary phalanx ; 

 terminal phalanges dilated at end, the dilatation with shallow 

 notch distal]}', leniform ; lower sm-face of digits with ring-shaped 

 groove : outer metata,rsals united ; style of sternum and omo- 

 sternum long, slender, and bony ; pupil horizontal ; tongue Avell 

 developed, bifid behind. 



GbPUYROMANTIS B0ULEXC4ERI, Sp. n. 



Descr'q'ition. — Head longer than broad ; snout subacuminate ; 

 nostril a little nearer tip of nostril than eye ; loreal region deeply 

 concave ; can thus I'ostralis curved ; diameter of eye very nearly 

 equals the distance from eye to tip of snout. Interorbital space 

 equals breadtli of upper eyelid. Tympanum distinct, h the dia- 

 meter of eye. FoUl over tympanum swollen anterioily and 

 j)os'teriorly. Vomerine teeth as in Mantidactylus graindatus. 

 Fingers moderate, first a little shorter than second, considerably 

 shorter than fourth, their tips expanded into discs which are 

 large on the thinl and fourth fingers, being about double the 

 breadth of the penultimate joint ; subai^ticulaT tubercles of digits 

 and meta.carpns prominent. Toes moderate, ^ webbed, their tij:s 



