COLUBER CANUS. Auct. 
Reptilia. — Plates XIV. 
XV. XVI. and XVII. 
Adult. Plate IJ gquainarum versus scutas abdomi- 
C. supra livide mgro-brunneus, subtus pallide mgro-purpureus, pa llidioribus ; oculis brunneis. 
Lies nigro-brunneis ; scutarum abdominalium margmrbus posteno 
Longittjdo adulti, 5 ped. 10 unc. ad 7 ped. ^ ... g2) fig. 2. 
Ammobates afrtcanus ex Guinea, Thcs. j fip par t ii. p. 481. 
Coluber Ammobates ex Guinea, Shav,, General Zoology, 
^ d. P- *«• + 6 ’ " e ' 7 ‘ *’ 
Colour. — Above deep liridblackish brown ; bel “' v P*' '^'abdomiiial' plates 
with two or more of the rows of scales on eac ^ ^ h ac k ; 
of the latter tint, except their tips, which are subcau dal scale is lighter 
the hinder edge of each abdominal plate, and o e lte Eyes dark 
than the parts in frontof it, semi-pellucid, and has ^served 
liver-brown. These are the markings and colours m f ^ of ^ 
in adult specimens, but many individuals occur in otherg in w hich 
upper parts is of a lighter shade than the one describe , The 
it is much darker, being actually a livid black, with specimen, 
gloss is observed to prevail in a greater or less degiee in e 
Variety A. — Plate XV. 
Colour. -The head, back, and sides greenish brown, a]ong 
blackish brown spots, disposed in three or four longitu ina ^ ^ 
each side, the other two, whether connected or sepaia e y Qne 
of the centre of the back. When they are unite ^ s ^ anterior angle 
irregular row, the points of junction are the mnei ( ang i eo f one of the 
of a spot of one side, and the inner (mesial) an p ralikenes8f in arrange- 
other side, hence exhibiting a tessellated aPP e ^^ d ; tfae gpots are either of 
ment, to two rows of dark squares on a c ies ^ d ° w j t h gmall mar ks or serrated 
a uniform colour throughout, or they are vari ^ ^ ^ thg gides and 
lines of a white or yellowish white co 0111 ’ and w i ne .yellow ; the abdo- 
the under parts intermediate between » the head, blotched, or 
minal plates, particularly those at a distance 
