narrow mfenorly, 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 IX. 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, th.e anterior and’posterior
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.
Tins snake is rarely obtained in Southern Africa; the few specimens I procured were
found m and barren localities, where little vegetation, save a scanty covering existed. of brushwood’ .
In various respects it resembles what is familiarly inow n in the Cape Colony by the name
of Scaap Sticker ( Trimerorhinus Bhombeaius); 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 m Trimeror&m 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 Amphrlvinus it is
situated m the middle of the nasal plate.. As regards internal parts, the anatomical characters
of the viscera are very different in the two.
NAIA ANGUSTICEPS.—S m it h .
R e p t il ia .— P l a t e LXX.
N. supeme subviridis, infra siibochrea; capite angusto, elongato, quadrangulare; corporis squatnis,
ordiuibus longitudinalibus 19 dispositis; Cauda longd.
XiONGlTUDO & nasi apice ad anum 56 unc.; caudce 9 unc.
C o l o u r .— Above, pale olive or dull grass-green, in some specimens faintly
tinted with brown ; the upper lip and the under parts of the head, body, and
tail, pale asparagus-green. Very large individuals of this species are occasionally
found, in which the colour of the upper parts is intermediate between
deep orange-coloured brown and yellowish brown (fig. d.), that of the under
parts intermediate between straw and ochre yellow. In these the abdominal
plates towards the head and the tail, are generally profusely blotched with
clove-brown.*
F o rm , &c. — Head long, rather narrow, and quadrangular; hind-head
scarcely wider than the neck; the body increases in size to nearly
its middle, thence continues of the same thickness for some distance, and
then decreases to the tail; the latter is long, subtriangular, and pointed, its
apex a horny scale. The upper surface of the head is flat, and the sides
perpendicular; the temples slightly prominent and convex; nose rather
broad and slightly arched; nostrils subovate, opening backwards and outwards.
Eyes moderately large, cornea very convex, pupil small and circular.
Rostral plate subtriangular, its apex arched; naso-rostral plates
quadrangular; fronto-nasal, large and subquadrangular, each notched at its
posterior and outer extremity, to receive the anterior and upper portion of
the preocular plate ; palpebral plates irregularly six-sided, broadest behind ;
frontal plate large, subquadrangular, its apex rather blunt, its base very
* In this as in other species of the genus, the colours, at least in some individuals, appear to change
with age.