3G0 FAUNA OP BRITISH NEW GUINEA, 



broadly truncate anteriorly; frontal once and one-third as long as 

 broad, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, much 

 shorter than the parietals; loreal longer than deep; 2 pre- and 3 

 jDOstoculars; temporals 1 + 1; 8 upper labials, the third, fourth, 

 and fifth entering the eye; five lower labials in contact with the 

 anterior chin-shields, which are but little smaller than the posterior. 

 Scales in 15 series, the outer conspicuously keeled; ventrals 140; 

 anal divided; subcaudals 82. Olive-green; labials yellow, with 

 dark edges; below yellowish, the subcaudals dark edged. ' 



From'Dr. Boulenger's description this example differs in having 

 the internasals broader than long, the frontal only one and one- 

 third times as long as Ijroad and much shorter than the parietals, 

 the loreal longer than deep, and the outer series of scales con- 

 spicuously keeled. Kutopliis pl-uDibea, Macleay, agrees much 

 better with Dr. Boulenger's description, but in all three examples 

 the rostral is twice as broad as deep, and the loreal is as long or 

 longer than deep. The shape and position of the temporals are 

 very variable, no two specimens being alike in this respect. So 

 far as can be judged from the data before me Papuan specimens 

 have invariably a longer tail than Australian; thus : — ■ 



a. Fife Bay, JSlew Guinea — subc. 82. 



b-d. Katow, New Guinea -— , 



e-g. Fly River, New Guinea — , 



ab. Herbert River, Q. — , 



c. Cape York, Q. — , 



d. Rockhampton, Q. — , 

 e-g. Port Esshigton, N.T. — , 

 h. N.W. Australia — , 

 i. N. Australia — , 

 This short series gives — New Guinea, 72-82; Australia, 58-72. 



Of course this character may be of no importance, and may not 

 be borne out by a larger series,! but there can be no harm in 

 calling attention to it. 



* See British Museum Catalogue, i. p. 216. 

 t It is worth noting that the smallest number mentioned by Boulenger 

 was found in a Cape York specimen. 



