PSEUDELAPS PSAMMOPHIS. 179 



slightly to the upper surface of the head. There are two postorbitals ; 

 the inferior one being narrower, and vertically longer than the upper, 

 which is subquadrangular. Three or four temporal shields may be 

 observed ; the anterior two being the largest ; the inferior one engaging 

 between the fifth and sixth upper labials. The latter are six in num- 

 ber, all of which are well developed ; the anterior two are the smallest; 

 the first being subtriangular ; the second pyramidal, with its summit 

 slightly engaging into the commissure between the anteorbital and the 

 postnasal; the third and fourth constitute the inferior rim of the orbit ; 

 the third being considerably elevated, and forming at the same time a 

 portion of the anterior rim ; the fifth and sixth are the largest of the 

 series. There are seven lower labial plates ; the first pair narrow 

 and lanceolated, inclosing the symphyseal, which has the shape of an 

 isoceles triangle ; the fourth is the most developed, and the seventh 

 the smallest of all. Two pairs of mental shields may be observed ; 

 the posterior pair being somewhat more slender and more elongated 

 than the anterior pair. Elongated scale-like shields may be observed 

 under the throat. 



The body is slender, elongated, subcylindrical, thickest upon its 

 middle region, covered with perfectly smooth, imbricated, and lanceo- 

 lated scales, disposed upon fifteen longitudinal series. The scales 

 increase slightly in size from the dorsal region towards the sides ; they 

 are broad and subrhomboid in the row adjoining the abdominal scu- 

 tellae. The tail constitutes about the fourth of the entire length, 

 which is twenty-five inches, six of which belonging to that organ ; it 

 is very slender and tapering, somewhat flattened beneath and convex 

 above. Seven rows of scales may be counted upon its base. 



The abdominal scutellae are well developed, one hundred and eighty- 

 one in total number; the preanal one being subdivided. The sub- 

 caudal scutellae are all divided, and about eighty pairs in number. 



The color is uniform bluish or greenish. The lower jaw, throat, and 

 neck are yellowish. A horizontal black line extends from one nostril 

 to the other, across the middle of the snout. A black spot, margined 

 with yellow, extends obliquely backwards from beneath the eye to the 

 margin of the jaw. The inferior postorbital and the inferior and inner 

 portion of the anteorbital are yellow. Beneath lighter, with an ob- 

 scure black band along the middle of the abdomen. 



Log. — A specimen of this species was collected at Sydney, Australia. 



