AMPLORHINUS MULTIMACULATUS. 
narrow inferiorly, broad and somewhat quadrangular superiorly ; temporal 
plates rather long and irregularly six-sided ; the plates of the upper lip 
exclusive of rostral 8, of lower lip exclusive of mental 11. The scales of 
the body are rather long, narrow, ovate, much inbricate and disposed in 
oblique transverse rows, 17 in number, about the middle of the body; the 
scales of the upper parts of the tail are six-sided, the anterior and pos- 
terior sides very short. Abdominal plates 164 to 170 ; subcaudal scales 
65 to 70. Length from nose to anus 19 inches, length of tail 4 inches. 
This snake is rarely obtained in Southern Africa ; the few specimens I procured were 
found in arid barren localities, where little vegetation, save a scanty covering of brushwood, 
existed. 
In various respects it resembles what is familiarly known in the Cape Colony by the name 
of Scaap Sticker ( Trimerorliinus Rhombeatus ) ; but on comparing specimens of our present 
species with the one just mentioned, it will be readily perceived that there are characters 
connected with the arrangement of the scales of the head which justify its being placed in a 
separate group. The chief differences are, first, the rostral plate in Trimerorliinus extends 
upwards to the fronto-nasal plates, and so separate completely the naso-rostral plates ; and 
secondly, the nostril is formed by the intervention of three plates, whilst in Amplorhinus it is 
situated in the middle of the nasal plate. As regards internal parts, the anatomical cha- 
racters of the viscera are very different in the two. 
