AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 31 



The Diamond Snake is common in the county of Cumberland, in 

 the Bkio Mountains, and in the Illawari-a district ; though a harmless 

 creature, when it is irritated its bite is severe; and though strictly noc- 

 turnal, individuals are sometimes met with during the day-time, either 

 basking in the sun and digesting their food, or in search of a place 

 of shelter when they have been disturbed. Like the other members of 

 the family Fyllionidce, they prey upon birds and the smaller mammals ; 

 young individuals feed upon insects, frogs, or birds' eggs ; in January 

 or December the female deposits thu'ty eggs or more, which she incubates. 



Diamond Snakes are found in almost every kind of country that 

 offers them sufficient shelter. They prefer open stony ridges, studded with 

 low trees, and well supj)lied with water ; but frequent the edges of swamps 

 and lagoons, where they find a good supply of Water Rats {Hydromys), 

 besides young ducks, and other water-fowl ; they also often visit the hen- 

 roosts of the farmer, or surprise the smaller mammals upon the branches 

 of trees. 



The largest specimen captured near Sydney, correctly measured, 

 without being stretched, was 10 feet 3 inches long ; individuals of 11 feet 

 or more in length occur no doubt, but they are very rare indeed, and have 

 never been preserved in collections. 



In a state of nature they never touch any food except living animals. 

 Once, however, a Diamond Snake, which was kept in a cage, swallowed a 

 rat which had been killed by a Brown-banded snake {HoplocepJialus curtus). 



The species under review are greatly infested by various kinds of 

 intestinal worms, including a tape- worm, clusters of which have frequently 

 been taken from their stomachs. 



Caepet Snake. Morelia variegata. 



(Plate II.) 

 Morelia variegata, Orat/, Cat. of Spec, of Snakes in Col. B. M., p. 86. 



Whether the Carpet Snake is only a variety of the former species, 

 or whether it deserves to be classed as a separate kind, has not been 

 satisfactorily proved; and as both snakes are totally distinct in color, and 

 very restricted in their habitat, it will perhaps be better to speak of them 

 here as two species. 



The general structure of the scales of the head and body is precisely 

 alike in both reptiles, but they vary much in coloration. 



