LAMPROPHIS * RUFULUS.— Smith. 
Reptilia. Plate LYIII. 
L. superne viridi-brunneus, inferne flavus aliquando livido-viridi-variegatus ; corporis squamis seriebus 
septemdecim dispositis; scutis abdominalibus circa 170; squamis subcaudalibus , 0. Coronella 
rufula Schlcg Essai sur la Phys. des Serpens, page 7 4. 
Colour, &c. — The upper surface of the head, the sides of the head above 
the lip, the back and sides of body and tail intermediate between deep 
orange coloured brown and hair-brown ; the upper and lower lips, and the 
under parts of the head, body, and tail intermediate between lemon yellow 
and ochre-yellow— the belly and under surface of the tail in some specimens 
variegated with a livid greenish band or row of spots, extending along its 
centre ; surface generally with a strong gloss. Eyes deep brown. The pre- 
ceding are the colours of full-grown individuals ; in young, and in those 
of middle age, they are rather different, the back and sides in these being of 
a tint intermediate between deep orange-coloured brown and yellowish 
brown ; the under parts yellow as in the adults, only not so bright : the 
colours in the specimen represented are those most commonly observed. 
Form, &c. — Head rather long, the hind-head slightly broader than the 
neck, the nose arched, the sides slightly convex ; nostrils vertical and 
narrow ; eyes moderately large, very convex, and project slightly beyond the 
palpebral plates ; rostral plate arched above, naso-rostral plates narrow, 
anteriorly rather broader behind ; frontal plate five-sided, posteriorly pointed 
* Ch. Gen. Head rather lengthened and depressed, bind-head broader than the neck, nose slightly 
arched, sides of head convex. Lower jaw thin. Teeth small, and uniform, the hinder ones of maxillae 
the smallest. Nostrils vertical, narrow, and valvular, situated near the middle of the nasal plate. f 
Eye large and convex, pupil circular. Body subeylindrical, below rather flattened. Section of tail 
subtriangular. Scales aud plates with a strong mother-of-pearl gloss. 
f In some specimens the epidermal covering consists of more than one portion, the part posterior to the 
nostril being divided from that anterior to it ; and in all cases, even when the covering is entire, there is a 
narrow vertical furrow below and above the opening. 
