42 AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 



nrnch larger than the anterior ones, bent down on the sides, and with nasal, 



anterior ocular, and second and third upper labial replacing the loreal ; 



belly flat. Dark brown above, a lighter band just crossing behind the 



occipitals ; side of face and chin much lighter than the other parts of the 



body ; belly yellowish ; sides of ventrals and lower edge clouded with 



purple grey, forming a series of irregular blotches ; each ventral with a 



distinct darkish streak on its lower edge. Half-grown and sometimes 



adult individuals shew traces of from seventy to seventy-five black rings, 



which in the young snakes are very distinct. The following description is 



applicable to young specimens up to three years old : — Muzzle light brown ; 



a black triangular spot covering the region between the eyes and the 



occiput, as far as the hinder margin of the occipitals — this streak is bent 



down on the sides of the face, and behind this dark spot is a white narrow 



streak and another broad dark band reaching down to the edge of the 



labial shields ; then follows again a white streak and a second black band, 



but much smaller than the previous one, and so alternately a broader 



brownish and a narrow black baud to within an inch of the apical half of 



the tail ; the black bands are occasionally interrupted, leaving a blank on 



the other side of the body ; including these interrupted streaks, from 



seventy to eighty may be counted upon body and tail— seventy-five is the 



usual number. The belly, in young and half-grown individuals, is covered 



with yellowish spots, which, at a more mature age, form into the black 



blotches mentioned in the description of the adult. The young found on 



the Lachlan and in other localities to the westward of Sydney are not 



banded. Specimens from Adelaide are also without bands, colored with 



black patches upon head and neck. In a few years these bands and black 



spots disappear, more or less, and the adult snake is generally uniformly 



broAvn ; there are some individuals on the coast, however, in which the 



bands may be traced when full grown. Specimens taken on the Murray 



had no bands or black marks. South Australian and other western 



examples are very dark when adult, sometimes almost black, and the 



abdominal plates covered with dark blotches much more intense in color 



than in the N. S. Wales specimens. 



The synonymy given above may be relied on. All the snakes of this 

 species which Jan and others describe are referable to D. superciUosa ; and 

 a fine series of this snake, in all stages, from the egg upwards, will prove 

 this to Museum visitors. 



