103. ABLABB3. 277 



Eye rather larger tiian in H. tutrix. Eostral broader than long, 

 visible from above ; suture between the internasals a little longer 

 than that between the preefrontals ; frontal once and a half as long 

 as broad, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, as long 

 as the parietals, nearly twice as broad as the supraocular ; nostril 

 just anterior to the middle of the nasal ; a small loreal, nearly as deep 

 as long; one prae- and two postoculara; temporals 1 + 2; six or 

 seven upper labials, third and fourth or fourth and fifth entering the 

 eye ; two pairs of chin-shields in contact with each other, the 

 anterior in contact with three labials. Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals 

 97-110 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 25-36. Belly reticulated black 

 and whitish. 



Total length 250 millim. ; tail 33. 



South-east Africa (luhambane and Delagoa Bay). 



A. Dark brown above, with irregular lichen-like brownish-white 



variegation. 



a. $ (V. 110 ; C. 25). Delagoa Bay. S.-Afrioan Museum [P.]. 



B. Olive-brown above, with three series of dark brown spots. 



i. (J (V. 97 ; C. 36). Delagoa Bay. S.-African Museum [P.]. 



103. ABLABES. 



Coronella, part., Sckleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 50 (1837). 



Herpetodryas, part., Schleg. I. c, p. 173. 



Ablabes, part., Bum. 8( Bibr. Erp. Qin. vii. p. 304 (1854) ; GiXnfh. 



Cat. Col. Sn. p. 27 (1858), and Sept. Brit. Ind. p. 223 (1864). 

 Cyclophis, part., Gunth. II. cc. pp. 119, 229. 

 Eurypholis, Hallow. Proc. Ac. Philad. 1860, p. 493. 

 Liopeltis, part., Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1860, p. 669; Jan, Elenco 



gist. OJid. p. 81 (1863). 

 Homalo.«oma, part., Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. ii. 1862, p. 83. 

 Diadophis, part., Jan, t. c. 1863, p. 261. 



Oyclophiops, Bouleng. Ann. Mus. Oenova, (2) vi. 1888, p. 599. 

 Ablabes, Bouleng. Faun. Ind., Rept. p. 304 (1890). 



Maxillary teeth small, equal, 15 to 30 ; mandibular teeth sub- 

 equal. Head not or scarcely distinct from neck ; eye rather small 

 or moderate, with round pupil ; loreal present or absent ; nasal 

 entire or divided. Body cylindrical, usually slender ; scales smooth 

 or feebly keeled, without apical pits, in 13 to 17 rows ; ventrals not 

 angulate laterally. Tail moderate or long ; subcaudals in two 

 rows. 



South-eastern Asia and Japan. 



