169. BROMOPHIS. 149 



169. DROmOPHIS. 



Diyophylax, part., Bum. 8f Bibr. Hrp. O&n. vii. p. 1103 (1854). 

 PsammopMs, part., Oiinth. Cat. Col. Sn. p. 135 (1858). 

 Chrysopelea, part., Oiinth. I. c. p. 145 ; Jan, Elenco sist. Ofld. p. 86 



(1863). 

 Philodryas, part., Jan, I. c. p. 83. 

 Dromophis, Peters, Man. Serl. Ac, 1869, p. 447. 



Maxillary teeth. 10 or 11, unequal in size, middle longest, and 

 gradually decreasing in size in front and behind, followed, after a 

 fihort interspace, by a pair of large grooved fangs situated below 

 ihe posterior border of the eye ; anterior mandibular teeth longest. 

 Head distinct from neck ; eye moderate, with round pupil ; frontal 

 narrow. Body cylindrical ; scales smooth, more or less oblique, with 

 apical pits, in 15 or 17 rows ; ventrals rounded. Tail long ; sub- 

 caudals in two rows. 



Tropical Africa. 



Fig. 10. 



Maxillary and mandible of Dromophis lineattis. 



1. Dromophis lineatns. 



Dryophylax lineatus, Dum. Sr Bibr. vii. p. 1124 (1854). 

 Psammophis sibUans, part., Oiinth. Cat. p. 136 (l858). 

 Philodryas lineatus, Jan, Blenco, p. 83 (1863). 

 Dromophis lineatus, Boulmg. Ann. 8^ Mag. N. H. (6) xvi. 1895, 

 p. 33. 



Snout once and a half to once and two thirds as long as the eye. 

 Hostral as deep as broad, visible from above ; nostril between two 

 shields ; internasals one third to one half as long as the prse- 

 frontals ; frontal once and two thirds to twice as long as broad, 

 not or but slightly narrower, in the middle, than the supraocular, as 

 long as its distance from the end of the snout, as long as or a little 

 shorter than the parietals ; loreal once and a half to once and two 

 thirds as long as deep; one prseocular, not reaching the frontal; 

 two (rarely three) postoculars ; temporals 1+1 or 2; eight upper 

 labials, fourth and fifth entering the eye ; four (rarely five) lower 

 labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are as long as 

 or a little shorter than the posterior. Scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 

 •140-159 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 78-105. Olive, most of the 

 scales black-edged, with three greenish-yellow longitudinal lines, 

 one on the vertebral row of the scales, the others on the fourth and 

 ifth rows ; outer row of scales greenish yeUow, like the belly, its 

 upper border black ; young with light cross-bars on the occiput and 



