9. ATRACTASPIS. 513 



2. Atractaspis congica. 



Atractaapis aterrima (non Ounth.), Socage, Jorn. Sc. Lisb. iv. 1873, 



p. 223. 

 congica, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1877, p. 616, pi. — . fig. 2 ; 



Bocage, Jorn. Sc. Lisb. x. 1887, p. 187, and Serp. Angola, p. 142 



(]895). 

 irregularis, var. congica, Boettg. Ber. Senck. Ges. 1888, p. 87. 



Snout very short, rounded. Portion of rostral visible from above 

 about half as long as its distance from the frontal ; suture between 

 the internasals longer than that between the prsefrontals ; frontal 

 slightly longer than broad, twice as long as its distance from the 

 end of the snout, as long as the parietals ; one pros- and one post- 

 ocular ; temporals 1 + 2, anterior very large and wedged in between 

 the fourth and fifth labials ; five upper labials, third and fourth 

 entering the eye, fourth largest ; first lower labial in contact with 

 its fellow behind the symphysial ; three lower labials in contact 

 with the chin-shields, third extremely large. Scales in 19-21 rows. 

 Ventrals 200-230 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 19-23, a few of the 

 ^interior entire, rest in two rows. Uniform dark brown or black. 



Total length 450 millim. ; tail 35. 



Congo, Angola. 



a. S (Sc. 19 ; V. 218 ; Puhgo Andongo, Angola. Dr. Welwitach [P.]. 

 0. 22). 



3. Atractaspis irregularis. 



Blaps irregularis, BAnh. Videnak. Setsk. Skrift. i. 1843, p. 264, 



pi. iii. figs. 1-3. 

 Atractaspis irregularis, Jan, Rev. <^ Mag. Zool. 1858, p. 518, and 



1859, p. oil, and Icon. Gin. 43, pi. iii. fig. 1 ("1873) ; Peters, Mm. 



Berl. Ac. 1877, p. 616; F. Mull. Verh. Nat. Ges. Basel, yi. 1878, 



p. 694 ; Boettg. Ber. Senck. Ges. 1888, p. 87 ; Giinth. Ann. 8r Mag. 



N. S. (6) XV. 1895, p. 527 ; Bocage, Herp. Angola, p. 143 (1895). 

 corpulentus {nxm Hallow.), Bocage, Jomi. Sc. Lisb. i. 1866, 



p. 49. 



Snout very short, rounded. Portion of rostral visible from above 

 measuring two thirds to three fourths its distance from the frontal ; 

 suture between the internasals longer than that between the prse- 

 frontals ; frontal as long as broad, much longer than its distance 

 from the end of the snout, as long as or slightly shorter than the 

 parietals; one prse- and one postocular; a very large temporal 

 wedged in between the fourth and fifth upper labials ; five upper 

 labials, third and fourth entering the eye, fourth largest; first lower 

 labial in contact with its fellow behind the symphysial ; three lower 

 labials in contact with the chin-shields, third extremely large. 

 Scales in 25-27 rows. Ventrals 220-257 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 

 22-28 pairs. Uniform dark brown or black. 



Total length 560 millim. ; tail 35. 



"West Africa, from the Gold Coast to the Congo ; Central Africa. 

 TOL. ni. 2 L 



