222 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



and tail is of a pale slate colour, the apical half of each scale 

 having a red tinge. The under surface is of a slatey white, ex- 

 cepting the head and neck which are barred and spotted with 

 black, and the extremity of the tail which is yellow. Abdominal 

 shields 187. Sub-caudals 90-90. Total length 10 inches, tail 2| 

 inches, head 5 lines. 



I have only one specimen of this very beautiful snake. It is very 

 small and slender, and yet I think it is full-grown. The depth 

 of its head and its lurid orange mantle give it a most formidable 

 and venomous appearance, and the comparatively large size of 

 the fangs and poison gland would lead to the belief that the 

 appearance is not deceptive. 



The collection contains also two specimens of a Morelia of 

 small size and reddish brown colour, with brown bands, which I 

 cannot believe to be young specimens of M. variegata, but until 

 I have seen more specimens at various stages of their growth, 

 I will not attempt to characterise them as a species. 



Description of a species of Edoliosoma from New Ireland, sup- 

 posed to be the adult of Ceblepyris schisticeps (Homb. et 

 J acq.) 



By E. P. Ramsay, F.L.S., &c, &c. 



Edoliosoma schisticeps. 



Ceblepyris schisticeps, Homb. et Jacq., Voy. au Pole Sud., 

 pi. X., fig. 1, juv. 



Adult male. — Forehead, crown of the head, nape and upper 

 part of the neck shining lead-blue, lower part of the back of the 

 neck brown, tinged with the same color, back and scapularies 

 brown tinged with rufous, becoming deeper in tint on the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts, which are light rufous or chestnut brown; 

 wings blackish-brown, the upper-coverts and secondaries broadly, 

 and the primaries narrowly, margined on the outer webs with 

 chestnut; tail feathers obscure reddish-brown, almost blackish at the 



