CORONELLA MULTIMACULATA. 
Head small, quadrangular, and tapered towards the nose, the latter nearly 
pointed ; the hind-head of the same width as the neck ; the palpebral plates 
arched, and project considerably above the frontal plate. Tlhe rostral plate, 
like a sheath, covers the apex of the nose ; the frontal plate truncated anteiiorly , 
triangular behind, and concave on each side. Nostrils narrow, more or less 
crescent-shaped, and situated at the middle ol the nasal plate, which is 
narrow and of considerable length ; frenal plate quadrangular and short , 
the post-ocular plates narrow, the lowermost longest ; gular plates neaily of 
equal size. Plates of upper lip, exclusive of rostral, eight, the hindermost 
but one the largest, of lower lip, nine, the sixth, counting from the mental 
plate, the largest. Eyes small, pupil circular. Scales of body subovate, and 
slightly imbricate, along the middle of the back they are very narrow, and 
their figure intermediate between ovate and rhomboidal. Scales of the 
tail six-sided, very slightly imbricate ; point of the tail aculeated. Rows of 
scales on the body, 17 ; abdominal plates, 168 ; subcaudal scales, 40 pairs ; 
tail about one-seventh of the total length, the specimen described being, 
head and body, 1 1 inches 2 lines, tail, 1 inch 10 lines. 
The only specimens of this species I have seen were obtained in the country of the 
Bushmen, near to the Orange River. The two specimens I possess were found by myself 
in the district above mentioned ; and I was told by the natives they were never seen but on 
sandy tracts, such as those on which I discovered them. According to my informants, they 
burrow in the sand, and I am disposed to believe they state truly their habits, as the nose 
is certainly fitted to penetrate with facility all kinds of loose soil. 
