AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 39 



The figiu*e referred to in SchlegcVs Ahhildungen, t. 46, f. 14, repre- 

 sents the head of the snake generally known as Dlemenia reticitluta (Plate 

 XII, fig. 10). In the British Museum Catalogue the habitat of this snake 

 {S. psammophis) is given as Port Essington and North Australia. Our 

 Museum specimens were collected at Port Denison. 



Spotted-headed Snake. Dlemenia olkacea. 



(Plate VI, figs. 9 and 9a.) 



Demansia olivacea, Grati, Zool. Mis., p. St, Demansia (Diemenia) olivacea, Gnthr., Cat. 

 of Coliibr. Snakes in Col. Brit. Miis., p. 212. 



Dr. Gray's description is condensed thus : — " Habit moderate ; 

 olive green, skin between the scales black ; scales of the sides with two 

 white streaks at the base ; a dark streak from the back edge of the eye to 

 the angle of the mouth." 



The reptile figured, which is in all probability identical with Gray's 

 typical specimen, may be described as follows : — 



Scales in 15 rows. 

 Two anal plates. 

 Abdominal plates, 180. 

 Subcaudal plates, 86/85. 

 Total length, 44 inches. 

 Head, Ij inch. 

 Tail, 10 inches. 



The general colour above is a dark olive green, or rather a rich brown 

 with a greenish tinge, much darker posteriorly, the tail in particular, 

 which towards the tip is salmon-coloured. The two white streaks at the base 

 of each scale, which Gray mentions, are best seen when the epidermis is 

 removed, or perhaps in living specimens when the skin is stretched, which 

 is otherwise black between the scales. There are black spots on the hinder 

 upper labials, which, in some specimens, may form a streak ; in young 

 and half-grown subjects the inner margin of the ocular shields is yellow ; 

 the anterior ocular being (as is usual in the members of this genus), 

 deeply indented. The head-shields are more or less black-spotted, but 

 not always very regular ; chin and neck pale yellow below, the first 8 or 

 10 abdominal plates sometimes with a sharply defined black margin, 

 which gradually becomes interrupted in the centre, and about the middle of 

 the body is altogether obsolete. In some examples the abdominal jjlates are 



