76
COLLECTION
OF OPHIDIA
IN MUSEUM
Ya. Bibi and Mbuyuni and along the Tsavo river appeal to
have disappeared (probably migrated), and the large herds of
impalla along the Tsavo have nearly all gone.
On the contrary, the greater and lesser kudu and the
buffalo near Killakuni have undoubtedly increased, many
calves having been seen.
To sum up, it may be stated that the war has seriously
disturbed the game from their usual haunts, but with the
exception of the rhinoceros, who, it is feared, will nevel:
recover, the damage is only temporary.
The above remarks, be it understood, only apply to the
Mombasa area, and in no way apply to the area of country
including 01 Doinnyo Erok, the 01 Egeju, L' Ado, or the Bissi
flver.
October 1915.
REPORT
ON THE COLLECTION OF OPHIDIA
THE SOCIETY'S MUSEUM
By A.
IN
LOVERIDGE
It has been suggested that it would be well to publish
from time to time in the Journals, lists of the specimens in
the Museum, so that members and others may know what
species we are in need of and assist the Society to complete
its series by filling up the gaps. In future numbers we hope
to publish lists of the Mammals, Birds, Lizards, &c.
It is greatly to be regretted that in the present list of
snakes lack of space renders it impossible to place the donor's
name opposite each specimen, as will be done in future lists.
The best collections which have been received are those of
Mr. H. J. A. Turner from Kakumega District, B.E.A., and the
Hon. C. W. Hobley's collection from Kitui District. In the
following list only snakes found in B.E.A. or Uganda are
listed; there are a number of other species in the collection
from West and South Africa, but these are omitted. A number
of the specimens had been sent to the British Museum for
identification last year, and these I brought back with me
COLLECTION
OF OPHIDIA
IN MUSEUM
77
in January.
The Society is therefore indebted to Dr. Boulenger
for determining all those in the following list marked with an
asterisk.
There are no new species to record, but quite a number of
interesting variations in scalation worth recording. The
second and third columns record the length of body and tail
respectively, the fourth the number of encircling scales at
mid-body. For the benefit of members I might add that the
ventrals are the broad scales along the belly (wanting in
burrowing forms such as Typhlops and Glauconia). Caudals
or sub-caudals are beneath the tail, and are usually paired.
The number of scales bordering the upper lip (labials) are
recorded in the last column, and where there are two numbers
given it shows an azygous condition of scalation on the right
and left sides. The letter 'M' after the length of the tail
implies that that member has been mutilated and part of it.
is missing, which, it must be remembered, renders valueless
the corresponding number of caudals.
Tropidonotus oliooceus (Banded Olive Snake).-The shortness of the tail in I 25 is remarkable. It is probable that
the end is missing, but the stump has heale.d over so remarkably
and become pointed that no trace of injury can be seen.
Snakes, unlike lizards, do not regenerate their tails.
Boodon lineatus (Brown House Snake).-Most
of the
males in the collection are olive in colour, the larger females
are plumbeous ; there are quite a number of light sandy-brown
specimens. By the numbers sent in to the Museum it would
seem to be the commonest species. I think, however, that
Ohlorophis neglectusis commoner, but does not come under notice
so much, as it spends most of its time in shrubs and bushes, away
from the hallI\ts of man and in the neighbourhood of streams.
Lycophidium capeme (Cape Wolf Snake).-The
range
of ventral scalation as given in Boulenger's 'Catalogue of
Snakes' is 164-189; this Can now be extended to 162-202.
I 410 has also 26 ca.udals.
Pseudaspis cana (Mole Snake).-In
I 218, the fifth, not
fourth, labiale nters the eye. Boulenger states, 'Sub-caudas
50-70,' whilst our four young specimens have respectively 39, 40,
43, 43 caudals. The ra.nge may therefore be increased 39-70.
78
COLLECTION
OF OPHIDIA
IN MUSEUM
Chlorophis (Green Snakes).-In the series of this genus
from Kakumega we have some interesting irregularities.
In the 'Catalogue of Snakes,' Vol. II, the description of
the la.bialsin emini is 'nine upper labials, 4th, 5th, and 6th
entering the eye.' In lwplogaster 'eight upper labials, 4th
and 5th entering the eye.' As will be seen from the data
of one of our specimens of emini (I 38), there are nine labials
on one side of the head and eight on the other; again, in I 39
there are nine and seven, whilst in two undoubted specimens
of emini there are seven on both sides. In I 39 on the right
side (7 labials) 3rd, 4th, and 5th enter the eye, the left side
is normal. The same thing occurs in I 37. Andersson 1 refers
to a similar scalation in a specimen of emini he obtained a.t
Khartoum, but in his snake it is the left side that has eight
labials, the right being normal. The two specimens, I 42 and
143, might be referred to either species--emini or hoplogaster.
In the number of ventrals and sub-caudals they incline to
emini, but in labials to hoplogaster, for in I 42, 4th and 5th
enter eye on the right side; 4th, 5th, and 6th on left. I 43,
4th and 5th enter on left side, and the right side is damaged.
Just on going to press I have received from Mr. Turner nearly
fifty examples of these two species from the Yala river. These
I have carefully examined.
Thirty-two of these were C. emini, of which seventeen were
normal on the basis of two labials entering eye; the last
specimen should be referred to hoplogaster were it not that
the caudals number 112.
Number of
Left
Labials
Number
EnterRight
91
Labials
ing
Eyeofof
10
870Labials
589Number
10
95
ing
Eye
4,5,6
4,5,6
2,3
4,5
5,6,7
3,4,5
1 Results of the Swedish Zoological Expedition to Egypt and the White Nile,
1901,by L. G. Andersson.
COLLECTION
OF OPHIDIA
IN MUSEUM
79
Of the fifteen specimens of C. hoplogaster fourteen were
normal, i.e. 8 labials on both sides, with the 4th and 5th entering eye. The abnormality consisted in labials being 9-8;
5th and 6th entering eye on the right side.
It seemS highly probable that cases of interbreeding must
occur between two so nearly related species inhabiting the
same locality; on the other hand, the slight differences may
be individual, and not specific. I am inclined to think that
the two species merit specific rank, but that the labials are
so liable to fusion and division that they are valueless for purposes of determination.
In the near future I hope to obtain a
number of living specimens to see if they interbreed in captivity
and solve the question by an examination of their progeny.
Chlorophis neglectus (East African Green Snake). __Ventrals
149-173, caudals 77-126, instead of 'Ventrals 149-166 and
caudals 77-114.'
Thrasops Roth8childi.-Our example of this scarce and
recently described snake has 117 caudals as against 141 of
the type.
Dasypeltis scabra (Egg-eating Bnake)...,....This snake is
extraordinarily variable in colouring; there are specimens
of jet blaok, dark brown, and grey in the collection. In the
Fort Hall distriot all the specimens I have seen were ringed with
white speokles very similar to those in. Leptodira hotamboeia.
Mr. T. D. Nair sent in an interesting colour variation (I 341)J
which he assures me is quite oommon in the Giriama oountry ;
it has not been described to my knowledge:
Dorsally pinkish brown, eaoh scale with two microscopic
black speoks at tip, laterally scales are vivid pink, the two
outer rows of scales, like all the ventrals, freckled with white
dots. Gular shields, as also anterior ventrals, white, gradually
merging into pink posterior ventrals. Head scales pinkish
brown, the frontal and parietal scales with faint traces of
the typical markings. Upper labials pinkish except on the
buccal border, thickly peppered with minute black spots.
Lower labials pure white.
Tarbophis guentheri (I 132).-This specimen agrees with
T. obtusus in having 23 scale rows instead of 21, but it possesses
an entire anal.
VOL. V.-No.
10.
G
80
COLLECTION
OF OPHIDIA
IN MUSEUM
Hemirhagerrhis Kelleri (I 100).-The 3rd, 4th, and 5th
labials enter the eye. Ventrals are 188 as against 147-173 ;
caudals 57 as against 61-78.
Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus.-In
the Catalogue of Snakes
110 is given as the maximum for caudals, whereas two of our
specimens have 117 and 116 respectively.
Psammophis bremrostris (Short-snouted Sand Snake).Ventrals given as 153-163 and caudals as 64-95 should be
extended, 153-181 and 57-95.
Dispholidus typus (Boomslange or Tree Snake).-Another
of the thirty-three South African snakes whose range extends
to B.E.A. The very fine series collected by Mr. Turner from
one locality show well the encroaching of black spots on the
green scales, so that the same species may have a vivid green
or jet black phase.
Micrelaps vaillanti.-The
type, locality, and recognised
habitat of this rare snake is Somaliland; unfortunately no
data accompanied the specimen which I found at the Museum;
it has 23 ventrals in excess of the maximum.
Dendraspis Jamesonii (Mamba).-I 195 is the head referred
to by Sir F. J. Jackson in the Journal, Vol. IV, No.7. Four
of the Kakumega specimens are much lower than the minimum
number of 99 caudals.
Bitis arietans (Puff Adder).-There seem to be three colour
phases-a brick-red, a nut-brown, and a lemon-yellow. The
eggs (I 398) were taken from a female killed on West Kenia;
I removed 24 eggs from the right ovary, 14 from the left.
Atractaspis irregularis (Burrowing Adder).-Scales
in 23
instead of 25 rows. Caudals 30 as against the maximum of 27.
SPECIES
STILL REQUIRED
FOR THE MUSEUM
COLLECTION
Mr. Ho bley has asked me to add a note on collecting snakes.
They may be readily killed by a blow across the back; the
head should on no account be struck, and the less it is battered
the better the specimen. Unfortunately, many persons mistake
the after-death muscular contortions as signs of vitality, and
keep hammering away till there is little left to move. If
caught alive, snakes will readily succumb to chloroform.
COLLECTION OF OPHIDIA IN MUSEUM
81
As soon as possible after death an incision should be made
in the throat, another in the stomach region, and a third just
anterior to the vent. The viscera may then be cut transversely with a pair of scissors,and can then be easily removed,
when the snake will preserve much better. It can be kept
in a 5 per cent. formalin and water solution or in methylated
spirits. It is important not to crowd it into a small bottle
for the first three or four days, and it should not be left in a
strong light, or the colours will fade. The locality and date
are important, and can easily be scribbled on a piece of stamppaper, but most people will not take this trouble.
Typhlops.-There
are at least half a dozen species found
in the Protectorate of which we have no examples. These
blind snakes are very worm-like in appearance and habits.
The mouth is a semicircular slit on the underside of the head;
head and tail are very much alike.
Glauconia.-Externally very similar to Typhlops, but
distinguished by the absence of teeth in the upper jaw.
Several species have recently been recorded from German
East Africa and Somaliland, and it is highly probable that
undescribed species are to be .foundin this country.
OoZubrines.-There are about thirty-four species which
have been recorded from B.E.A. or G.E.A. yet required; most
of them are small, insignificant snakes; The chief desiderata
among the front-fanged species are Hydrus pZaturus (black
and yellow sea-snake), an eel-like reptile that has been occasionally cast up upon the coast; the tail is flat and rudderlike. EZapechis niger from Zanzibar, a sluggish and evillooking snake with very small eyes, about two feet in length.
Dendraspis angusticeps (common black or green mamba),
which has been recorded from Mombasa and Taveta; it attains
a length of thirteen feet, but is comparatively slender. With
its near relatives it enjoys the reputation of being the most
deadly snake in Africa.; it is very active and has no hood.
It is a. common error in B.E.A. to apply the name' Mamba'
to the black-necked cobra (Naia nigricollis).
Vipermes.-Our
series of this family is almost complete
with the exception of the burrowing vipers (Atractaspis),
of which there are six not represented. Oausus defilippi
G
2
82
COLLECTION
OF OPHIDIA
IN MUSEUM
(snouted night adder) is also required. A Uganda specimen
in good condition of the beautiful Bitis gabonica (Gaboon
viper) and a specimen of the recently described green tree
viper, Atheris woosnami, from Ruwenzori, will complete the
Viperidre of British East Africa in the Museum Collection.
Localities.-Collections made on the German border, Tana
river, Northern Guaso Nyiro, Jubaland, and Uganda will be
certain to contain valuable material.
• .. thebaicu8
emini
Glauconia
Typhlop8
Python
TropidoMtus
PYTHONIDlE
GLAUOONIDlE
IDlE
(OOLUBRINlE)
-----"--
-
4
Taveta.
428
Kitui
Parklands.
Dist.
3
7
Kyambu.
6
14
102
24
51
14
47
12
147
8
174
146
162
182
11
30
22
24
91.
21
48
27
7
14
19
5 OF
·361
253
2
255
150
149
147
129
25
26
45 OPHIDIA
Athi
272
124
25
1586
13
14
46
1
4 Dist.
River.
3
145
5
3
17
173
53
165
36
23
344
342
254
151
348
142
128
145
97
Mombasa
.. THE
326
Mombasa.
43
Nr.
Jilore.
Kitui
148
2
17!
4i
5i
LIST
111
131
10i
Ii
!
9£
IOf
8t
9t
91
7!
i
Kakumega.
25i
I!
It
8!
1
1tNairobi.
111!
Kismayu.
Kismayu.
2!M
!
thebaicu8·
olivaceu8
emini
punctatus·
TYPHLOPIDlE
IN THE SOOIETY'S
DEOEMBER 1915
OOLLEOTION,
-
Maohakos.
-
. - ·-
206
3420
410
130
11
163
89
lot
18t
339
3158
315
14
14
162
182
172
39
7-8
51
47
5932t
9915
252
110
48
26
68
169
429
126
943
2840
10
55
68
70
41
31
53
225
237
9-8
210
194
175
184
17
38
50
833
63
54
Nakuru.
Kitui
Kabete.
Momb&sa.
Jilore.
Kitui.
Nakuru.
227
59
24!
42tM
27
Dist
Dist.
296
310
218
308
27
28
31
29OF
Nairobi.
41f
27
25
35
23
43
205
170
179
16
118
15
238
186
28
7-8
234
185
27
17
735
66
89
225
2SO
217
30
83
so
23
80
Maohakos.
JUore.
Mombasa.
67
217
235
69
72
3221
219
54
239
202
200
29
7-8
163
4309
205
156
219
162'
76
31
32
35
04
11
60
581
20
24
18
12
119
11
9215
18
50
240
53
233
212
158
209
231
62
58
29
55
34
232
207
81
51
58
220
65
14utha.
Nairobi.
Parklands.
212
224
90
36
Voi.
203
216
..
340
5t
63
1891
59
sa
341
151
It
9t
81Kakumega.
Kismayu.
31
Kakumega.
3t
4t
8t
256
155
160
136
88
251
301
22i
23t
29.
231
4.
41
If
141t29IN
Kyambu.
Ii
380
2374
161
29
58
33
21t
22118t
201
151
71
181
8t
21It
41217
OPHIDIA
257
166
241
12i
4!
ll9
211
MUSEUM
75
14i
COLLECTION
368
1:1
259
1:1
Zineatus
CGM
emini
154
capense.
~~• 204
1a
lIt
so 2~
U
336
29 In
280
158
:t
~
n
a
•
neglectus
ltis
---"-
.
42
43
1
719
168
18
167
165
117
22
147
122
136
128
85
223
5
142
194
8
8-9
8M
6-7
26
179
115
173
7-8
113
97
Tumu
163
111
117
9
90
81Tumu.
181
7-9
164
170
171
142
112
6
4
8
8
9
104
73l
394
20
21
24
110
1015
442
444
178
116
15
411
172
126
160
8
2
162
79
392
151
166
22
114
96
8M
95
7
132
422
42
182
21
30
39
47 OF
143
220
23
236
224
48
139
235
167
Nakuru.
Kitui
Yala
99
15
17
Diat.
320
441
373
364
372
40
651237
41
183
109
169
12
8-9
63
297
329
Kabete.
125
362
312
168
196
171
Kitui
261
48
38
138
443
234
46
45
44
393
371
432
219
313
39
303
Mombasa.
Jilore.
381
Nairobi.
363
420
131
316
.15
.....River.
..
.."Diat.
3t
3161
1219t
21!7t
26t
12t
2011114t
19i
919
1
11818171-M
4!
201
20!19!
12k
91
9!
191
8!81
111
81M
24l
4t
5l
18l
lIt
10!Kismayu.
141
2l
41Kakumega..
4l
9t
1717l
191
201Kyambu.
221
l1lM
24l
lOt
4!lot
41l
20t
18t
71
15l
211
9l
6tM
Longido.
25l
10l
IN
29l
81-M
Kakumega;
84
OPHIDIA
(DASYPELTINlE)
MUSEUM
COLLECTION
emin'
181
tholloni
Jacksoni
scabra* .
semi'llariegatus
37
..
..
mirhagerrhiB
blandingii
Tarbophia
OOLUBRID~
- -""- · :t
222
227
103
7
225
79
23!
416
24!
121375
22!
115
7-8
41
8
5
171
19
47
4
65
175
102
95
42
Nakuru.
412
221
7
2
54
9
3
166
274
126
2
1
170
121
98
169
4
45
7
11
51
164
157
968
57
6
19
176
90
6-7
161
223
120
12
107
116
117
104
17
156
17
Kitui
82
6
55
77
ISO
Nakuru.
160
109
168
101
175
81
213
341
Jilore.
220
167
43
317
172
Taveta.
177
217
173
ParkIands.
328
73
100
282
80
17
158
224
220
24
106
Jilore.
20
23
265
159
178
183
166
Mombasa.
Gazi.
Voi.
Fort
Hall.
269
10
211
226
79
262
133
188
86
53
229
224
17MUSEUM
Kitui
Dist.
8-7
Kabete.
8
MaChak08.
4
13
5
17
Kitui
Dist.
227
60
338
174
34
Parklands.
Diet.
Dist.
100
173
180
821
134
215
223
tMombasa.
Nairobi.
172
4
207
281
Kyambu.
141171
16.
298
231
11
330
(head)
13!
22141
170
201
226
281
12
251121161Kakumega
280
621414
17113!
7!
81
132
26!
Kyambu.
2t
318
263
251271
21-M
19IDist.
2.
19!
5!
Longido.
91
51
16!
3.
Kismayu.
9
16t
8
Kismayu.
413
251
2!
2M
261
11
99
1518
295
3O!
2t
OPHIDIA
N
85 1615t
31
3!
4t
91
415
405
30121111
(Skin)
175
20
lOt
OF
31
176
10!
224
211
81
.8823
COLLECTION
221
Kelleri
• (skin)
8cabra*
•
BUbtlmiatUI
notot<Bnia
oxyrhync1w,a*
• 178
notoBtictUI
(DIPSADOMORPHIN.lE)
8
Dist.
9 Kitui
West
Africa.
10
Gobwen.
8
.. melanoleuca
concolor*
bi8eriatus*
Thelotornis
Kirtlandi
Dendraspi8
Micrelap8
vaillanti
Elapechis
OLUBRID.lE
(ELAPIN.lE)
-- -- ·
-
L
ongido.
Kyebe.
184
149
221
78
8
147
15
7
168
22
176
188
1019
211
212
49
51
1117
58
17
192
126
20
163
24
7
7
2"
56
154
185
142
15
156
151
21
145
17
18
9
85
8
6
M
390
226
178
160
16
1
119
51
153
15
Taveta.
173
12
5
8
331
265
181
22
6
5
218
152
53
1
019
54
23
170
21
266
155
2
202
7-8
179
157
187
28
3
150
1215
118
9
110
64
57
199
54
20
25
382
244
53
10
22
58
39
183
Nakuru.
Tsavo.
Fort
Kitui
!HI
Kitui
41
83
~
Hall.
Dist.IN
189
49
52
133
112
148
2M
19
355
179
96
83
34
107
249
125
50 OF
57
184
188
187
55
213
55M
98
193
103
9
1
177
104
60
178
13
59
78
13
21
3
360
332
101 17!
Nairobi.
Nr.
Nairobi.
185
250
192
59
180
95
23
0
60
19
193
Parklands.
Elora
bethuli.
137
l
It
"9Dist.
(skin)
3i
13!
52~
9!
461
Njoro.
(head)
111141t
34!
lli
2i
Ii
4!
2!
3t
195
13t
21t
14t;
8t
I!
40t
Longido.
I!
4t
It
27!
17!
5tM
8!
2t
36t
1814!17t
9i
19t
11!
14t
190
11!9tM
40!
18t
Kyambu.
Kakumega.
Kipini.
Kakumega.
(head)
15t
7tM
44!
6!
52!
OPHIDIA
MUSEUM
COLLECTION
86 Jilore.
191
319
186
84
367
345
breviro8triB
Jack80ni
Jamesonii*
Guentheri
haie
(head)
typus
(Var. F)•
aU8'U"
arietana
gabonifJ(J
VIPERIDlE
--f-"---· ·
67
288
60
61
65
42Africa.
369
324
69
383
199
198
West
P
arklands.
Kakumega.
151
7
148
214
1
5
22
17
8
225
51
107
147
26
6
21
150
2
2
82
13
32
7
Kitui
218
6-7
134
21
19
Dist.
128
18
18
14
6
3
19
5
217
9
8
32
1
31
149
24
4
H
158
32
127
35
124
119
30
15
17
4
365
233
33
137
8-9
17
62
240
9
267
Nakuru.
Yala
River.
252
146
253
23
25
242
131
143
7
0
139
29
37
130
236
33
2M
378
36
23
251
203
133
213
194
72
Nairobi.
West
Jilore.
Kitui
Parklands.
Nairobi.
Thika.
33
Aberdares.
Dist.
Nakuru.
Kitui
West
Africa.
Dist.
335
19
398
68
10
346
358
327
27
16-17
334
63
21 var.).
132
33
15-14
337
202
1
04
92
93
71
200
350
289
359
66
201
363
290
370
70
..
349
323
197
l
~..Africa.
26
13-14
It
II
2O!
Ht1
t
141
18!
head)
Kyambu.
20!
11
1
15t
19t
2t
(1
Ht
I
t
Ii
9!
I!
31
24,!
Mbgathi
611
(head.,
(head,
17t
heads)
briok-red
normal
River.
brown
var.).
18
11
291
33!
21
57t
37!
4!
15!
(5
491
1-4
131M
17
17-19
17!
201
IN377
376
·281
10!
Kakumega.
Kyambu.
Serengetti.
Kakumega.
eggs).
Kakumega.
23t
91
11
91
53!
8tM
(38
71
23!
OPHIDIA
OF
13!
tM
6i
1
31
127
2!
MUSEUM87
COLLECTION
arietam·
Jamesonii·
Parklands.
rhombeatu"
irregularis