34 
Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
Elapechis sundevalli {Smith). 
Sundevalle's Garter Snake. 
District. 
Date. Donor. 
P. 1 
North Natal 
No history 
O.R.C. 
1900 TVessling 
3 
4 
De Deur, Evaton 
No history, O.R.C. 
1907 Koelkenbek 
Young 
B. 5 to 8 
As this snake has long only been known in very few 
specimens, the following data concerning the two largest 
specimens in the Pretoria Museum will be of interest. 
The proportion of the portion of the rostral visible from 
above to the distance of the rostral from the frontal, seems to be 
an inconsistant character, in No. 1 it is only equal to three- 
fourths the distance from the frontal in No. 2 it actually 
exceeds the distance (No. 1, 2*3 : 3 mm., No. 2, 2*4 : 2 mm., 
suture between the internasals No. 1, 1 mm., No. 2, 0*6 mm. ; 
suture between the praefrontals No. 1, 2*6 mm., No. 2, 1*6. 
Length of frontal No. 1, 5*3 mm.. No. 2, 5*4 mm. ; breadth of 
frontal No. 1, 4.2 mm., No. 2, 4*1 mm. In No. 1 the length 
of the frontal is a trifle shorter, in No. 2 it is a little longer 
than its distance from the end of the snout. Suture between 
the parietals No. 1, 5 mm., No. 2, 3*8. Posterior nasal of both 
in contact with the single prseociilar, two postoculars ; temporals 
No. I, right side 4 and 2, left side 4 and I and 2, No. 2 both 
sides I and 2. Seven upper labials, third and fourth entering 
the eye, sixth largest. 
First pair of lower labials meeting behind the sympliysial, 
two pairs of chinshields, anterior slightly larger than the 
posterior and in contact with three lower labials. Scales in 
43 rows. 
Ventrals No. 4, 472, No. 2, 465, anal entire, subcaudals 
No. 4, 23, No. 2, 24. No. 4 has 28 chocolate-brown half rings 
above, the anterior of which extend longitudinally over 5 or 
6 scales, the posterior over 4 or 5 scales, between those dark 
half rings are lighter brown ones, edged in front and behind 
by a white or yellowish line one scale wide. The dark colour 
of the most anterior ring is produced A shaped on the nape 
and extends to the front of the frontal. Upper lip and lower 
parts light. No. 2 has faded very badly, but traces of the 
chevron shaped mark on the nape can be made out, the other 
markings have been nearly entirely obliterated. 
No. 4 was caught in North Natal by Mr. Tresling when 
on commando in his tent under his bed, it was carried about 
by him during part of the campaign in spirits, until he found 
gn opportunity to send it to Pretoria, 
