OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 15 



The following papers were read ; 



NOTES ON A NEW SPECIES OF DENDROPHIS FROM 



CLEVELAND BAY. 



By William Macleay, F.L.S. 



Diu-iiig the last twelve months I have had sent to me, by Mr, 

 Edward Spalding, from the Endeavour River and Cleveland Bay, 

 several species of snakes, which I have not been able to identify 

 with any of those hitherto described. I have, however, abstained 

 from attempting a description of them, or even affixing cabinet 

 names to them, until I became possessed of a sufficient number of 

 sjtecimens to enable me to trace the various changes in marking 

 and coloration which snakes generally undergo at various stages of 

 their existence. 



In the case of the tree snake, of which I now exhibit a speci- 

 men, all necessary requirements in that respect have been fulfilled, 

 for I have about eight examples representing the animal at various 

 periods of its growth. 



Two Australian species of the genus Dendrophis are known and 

 have been described by Dr. Gunther, of the British Museum. 

 D. punctulata, the well-known green tree snake of Sydney and the 

 coast districts of New South Wales ; and D. calligastra, from 

 Cape York, specimens of which I have also had from the Endea- 

 vour River. 



The species now before you is from Townsville, Queensland, and 

 as it is the most elongate and slender of the genus I have seen, I 

 propose to give it the name of 



Dendrophis gracilis. 



The entire length of a full-grown specimen is about 4 feet, of 

 which the tail is quite 14 inches and very taper. The abdominal 

 plates number 212, and the subcandals over 130 in a double row. 

 The head is one inch long, flat, and moderately narrowed behind. 

 The superciliary shields abut prominently over the eyes, and the 

 loreals are more nearly square and less elongate than in the other 



