PREFACE. 



The present descriptive Catal()a;ue contains a full aL-couiit of nearly all tlie Australian Snakes 

 discovered ami rei'onled up to the year 186S, iucludiug the Sea Suakes oljscrved on our coast. 

 Original descriptions have been retained wherever it was possible, errors have been corrected, 

 and the ranges of the various species defined. Much attention has been paid to the colors 

 of living specimens, and to the changes ophidian reptiles undergo during the period of growth. 

 Frequent experiments have enabled me to distinguish between venomous and dangerous 

 venomous .'snakes ; and it must be a source of congratulation that, with the many new 

 discoveries in this branch of ISTatural History during the last ten years, not one really dangerous 

 serpent has been added to our fauna. 



In 1854, about twenty Australian Snakes were known ; five years later, thirty were 

 enumerated in Dr. Giinther's Catalogue ; and now, nearly seventy species are on record. 

 Science owes much to the energy of the Trustees of the Australian Museum, who, with veiy 

 limited means, have kept a most able and enthusiastic collector (Mr. Greorge Masters) in the 

 field ; and I do not think I am far wrong in stating that two-thirds of these newly 

 discovered species were first exhibited in Sydney. 



I am under deep obligations to Dr. Albert Giinther, F.R.S., of the British Museum, 

 whose splendid work on " The Eeptiles of British India " has enabled me to add a full 

 account of the Australian Sea Snakes. The gifted daughters of A. W. Scott, Esq., M.A.^ 

 Miss Scott, and Mrs. Edward Forde — have done everything in their power to give correct 

 figures of the reptiles iUustrated. This task (one of peculiar difficulty, as every naturalist 

 knows) has been well carried out, and the difierent species will be easily recognized. 



I thank all the kind contributors to the Museum — in particular, the Messrs. M'Intosh, of 



Lane Cove and Marsh Bank; Mr. Houghton Bradley, Mr. Arch. Boyd, Mr. Edward S. Hill, 



Mr. Edward Beiisario, and others, who, during a period of niae years, have enriched our 



collection with numerous specimens, and through whose exertions the dangerous snakes of the 



neighbourhood of Sydney have been considerably reduced. 



I shall feel thankful if occasional mistakes are pointed out to me ; and if sufficient 

 encouragement is ofl'ered, I hope to continue publications of a similar character. 



G. K. 

 Hyde Park, 

 Woolloomooloo, March 20, 18G9. 



