466 



VIPEEID^. 



Aspidelaps, part., Jan, Rev. ^ Mag. Zool. 1859, p. 510. 

 Heterophis, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1862, p. 276. 

 Dinodipsas, Peters, Sitzb. Ah. Berl. 1882, p. 89.S ; Cope, Proc. Ac. 

 Philad. 1883, p. 67. 



Head distinct from neck, covered with symmetrical shields; 

 nostril between two nasals and the internasal ; loreal present ; eye 

 moderate, with round pupil, separated from the labials by sub- 

 oculars. Body cylindrical; scales smooth or keeled, with apical 

 pits, oblique on the sides, in 15-22 rows ; ventrals rounded. Tail 

 short, subcaudals in two rows or single. 



Tropical and South Africa. 



Kg. 34. 



Skull of Gausus rhombeatus. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Scales in 17 rows or more ; subcaudals aU or greater part in two 

 rows. 



Snout obtuse, moderately prominent ; 

 scales in 17-21 rows ; ventrals 120- 

 155 ; subcaudals 15-29 1. rhombeatus, p. 467. 



Snout prominent, often more or less dis- 

 tinctly turned up at the end ; scales in 

 19-22 rows; ventrals 134-152; sub- 

 caudals 17-25 2. resimus, p. 468. 



