12 THE OEDEE OF SHAKES— OPSIDIA. 



are perhaps our most dangerous Ophidians. Two other large snakes — the 

 Brown Snake (Diemenia superciliosa), and the Northern Banded Snake 

 {Pseudonaja nuchalis) — and all the small venomous but not dangerous 

 species, do not distend their necks when angry, and probably bear a close 

 resemblance to the Slapidte of South America. The whole are peculiar 

 to the Australian region, except the Short-tailed Snake {Brachyurophis 

 australis), which, according to Giinther, belongs to an American genus. 

 The real position of the Death Adder [Acanthophis antarctica) has not yet 

 been pointed out ; in form a true viper, this snake has its poison fangs 

 permanently erect, and will therefore be classified according to its den- 

 tition with the Elapidce. From late experiments, it also appears that 

 the venom of this reptile is less dangerous than that of the first- 

 mentioned four species; thus, a Prog {Hyla aurea) and a young Sleeping 

 Lizard {Cyclodus gigas), severely bitten by a Death Adder, lived for 

 more than twelve hours after the bite. The snake was fresh, and very 

 vigorous, and the fangs were left in the wound for two minutes. 



We have already alluded to the nomenclature of foreign naturalists, 

 who will persist in adding to our fauna reptiles which do not exist ; the 

 typical sj)ecies of which (solitary sjoecimens) are generally in the Paris 

 Museum. Bolyeria inultlcarinata and Furina colonotos may be mentioned 

 as examples. Their habitat is erroneously given as Port Jackson and 

 Tasmania, though they have not been observed in these places before or 

 since their alleged discovery by the Prench voyagers during their very 

 brief sojourn on these shores. 



It will be necessary also to say a few words about the Sea Serpents 

 which visit our coast, as they belong to the second suborder, and are 

 frequently overlooked in adding up the Australian fauna. 



Two well-known forms— the Ringed Sea ^n?^Q(Flaturus laticaudatus) 

 and the Yellow-bellied Sea Snake ( Pe/crwis bicolor) — are occasionally thrown 

 ashore on the coast of New South Wales; but eight other species have been 

 noticed further north, and these are fully described in Giinther's great Avork 

 " The Reptiles of British India," from which our figures and descriptions 

 of tliem have been copied. Except the two common species. Sea Snakes are 

 rare in collections; and in arranging the riches of the Australian Museum, 

 one of these aquatic reptiles has been found that cannot be classed with 

 any other known form, and will constitute the type of a new genus. 



