AUSTEALIAN SNAKES. 35 



The senus Liasis is distributed over some of the islands of the 

 Arafura Sea, as Timor, and the Aru Group ; a species also inhabits New 

 Ireland (Liasis amethystinKsJ, which is figured at Plate V, figs. 5 and 

 ha, so as to give some idea of the character of this reptile, there being 

 no Australian species in the Museum collection.* 



Olive-green Rock Snake. Liasis olivacea. 



Liasis olivacea, Grai/, Cat. of Snakes in Col. B. M., p. 92. 



A second Rock Snake of the genus Liasis occurs near Port Essington, 

 and on Sir Charles Hardy's Island, of which Dr. Gray gives the following 

 brief description : — 



" One preocular and three postocular shields ; rostral not pitted ; 

 the first pair of upper labials with a small pit on the outer upper edge ; 

 the four or five liinder pair of the lower, preceding the three last, pitted. 

 Pale olive-green (in spirits) ; upper lip and beneath pale yellowish ; 

 occiput scaly, with one pair of larger shields." 



SfA.'BJDOA., Gray. 



Head sealy ; muzzle regularly shielded to between the eyes ; nostrils 

 lateral, in a single plate; eyes lateral; pupil elliptical, erect; upper 

 labial shields flat ; hinder lower labials pitted ; scales smooth ; subcaudal 

 plates two-rowed. 



Gilbert's Rock Snake. Nardoa gilbertii. 



(Plate V, figs. 3, 3a.) 

 Nardoa gilbertii, Chay, Cat. of Spec, of Snakes in Col. B. M.,2>. 93. 



Scales, 52 rows. 

 Abdominal plates, 330. 

 One anal plate. 

 Subcaudals, 51it. 

 Total length, 42 inches. 

 Head, 1:^ inch. 

 Tail, 4 inches. 



* The Trustees are since indebted to Capt. M'Gregor, of the yacht " Chance," for a splendid collection of 

 New Ireland Reptiles, among which is a large Liasis ainethystinus. 



