2f6 AFSTEALIAN SNAKES. 



Brown Tree Snake. Dipas fusca. 



(Plate V, figs. 7, 7a.) 

 Dipsas fusca, Gray, Gunther's, Cat. of Snakes in Col. Brit. Mus., p. 171. , 



Triglyphodon flavescens, Bum. and Bibr., p. 1080. 



Scales in 19 rows. 



Anal entire. 



Abdominals, 236. 



Subcaudals, 87/87. 



Total length, 6 to 7 feet. 



Head, l^inch. 



Tail, 13 inches. 



Form slender ; body and tail compressed and elongate ; head much 

 depressed, triangular, broad behind, and very distinct from neck ; scales on 

 the vertebral line much larger, regularly six-sided, vertical shield broad, 

 occipitals obtuse behind, one loreal ; eight upper labials, the third and 

 fourth and sometimes the iifth touching the orbit ; one anterior two pos- 

 terior oculars ; eye large, pupil elliptical ; nostril moderate, between two 

 shields ; posterior maxillary teeth longest and grooved. 



Above, light or reddish brown, with numerous black, rather obHque, 

 and sometimes obsolete, cross bands ; belly uniformly salmon-colored. 



This species has not been so much noticed in the neighbour- 

 hood of Sydney as the Green Tree Snake, but this may be owing to its 

 nocturnal habits ; it is found along the East Coast, and ranges as far as 

 Port Essington ; individuals, observed in captivity, appeared very gentle in 

 disposition, and could be freely handled without showing any inclination 

 to bite ; they passed the day coiled up amongst the branches of trees, but 

 became very active at night, noiselessly gliding through the foliage in 

 search of their prey, wliich, as with the Green Ti-ee Snake, consists of birds, 

 birds' eggs, insects, frogs, lizards, and the smaller mammalia. 



Giinther states that all Indian Dipsades live on warm-blooded 

 animals, some preying on birds, some on mammals only ; it must be sup- 

 posed, however, that when young they feed on frogs and lizards also. 



In this reptile the posterior maxillary tooth is grooved, but its bite 

 is not the least dangerous. 



