154. OSTEH0PTJ3. 99 



Total lengtli 640 millim.; tail 160. 

 East and Central Africa. 



■a. Hgr. (V. 195 ; C. 81). Zambesi. Sir J. Kirk [0.]. 



(Type.) 

 i. d (V. 190; C. 95). Lake Tanganyika. Sir Xferk [0.]. 



154. OXYRHOPUS. 



Paeudoboa, part., Sehneid. Hist.Amph. ii. p. 281 (1801). 



Scytale {non Latr.), part., Merr. Tent. p. 90 (1820) ; Fitzinq. iV. 



Class. :Ry>t. -p. 29 (1826). ■ 

 Clelia, part., Fitzing. I. c. ; Wagl. Syst. Amph. p. 187 (1830). 

 Duberria, part., Fitzing. I. e. 

 Oxyrhopus, part., Wagl. I. c. p. 185 ; Bum. 8f Bibr. Frp. 06n. vii. 



p. 1011 (1854) ; Giinth. Cat. Col. Sn. p. 188 (1858) : Jan, JElenco 



siet. Ofid. p. 92 (1863). 

 Erythrolamprus, part., Wagl. I. o. p. 187. 

 Scytale, Wagl. I. c. ; Dum. Sr Bibr. t. e. p. 996 ; QUnth. I. c. p. 187 ; 



Jan, I. c. p. 91. 

 Lycodon, part., Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 104 (1837). 

 Coluber, part., Schleg. t. c. p. 125. 



Spbenocepbalus, Fitzing. in Tsohudi, Faun. Per., Serp. p. 48 (1846). 

 Siphlophis, Fitzing. I. c. p. 66. 



Rhinosimus (non Latr.), Dum. 8f Bibr. t. c. p. 991 ; OiintJi. I. c. p. 10. 

 Brachyruton, Dum. 8f Bibr. t. c. p. 1002 ; Jan, I. c. p. 91. 

 Olistbenes, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1859, p. 296. 

 Phimopbis, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1860, p. 79. 



MaxiUary teeth 10 to 15, subequal, followed, after an interspace, 

 by a pair of moderately enlarged grooved teeth, situated just behind 

 -the vertical of the posterior border of the eye ; anterior mandibular 

 teeth longest. Head distinct from neck; eye moderate or rather 

 .small, -with vertically elliptic pupil. Body cylindrical or feebly com- 

 pressed ; scales smooth, with apical pits, in 17 or 19 rows ; ventrals 

 rounded or obtusely angulate laterally. Tail moderate or rather 

 long ; subcaudals single or in two rows. 



Central and South America. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



1. Subcaudals in two rows. 



A. Normally eight upper labials ; prseocular reaching the upper 

 surface of the head. 



1. Prseocular in contact with, or, exceptionally, narrowly sepa- 

 rated from the frontal ; ventrals 174-225. 



a. Black cross-bars, if present, not disposed in threes. 



Eye moderate ; subcaudals 78-126 .... 1. petolarius, p. 101. ^ 

 E}'e rather small ; subcaudals 47-80 . . 2. rTiomhifer, p. 103. -^ 



6. Black cross bars, if present, disposed in threes. 



Snout rather prominent ; subcaudals 55- 



83 3. trigeminus, p. 104. '^ 



Snout not prominent ; subcaudals 76-89. 4. hitorqmtus, p. 104. '' 



h2 



