AUSTEALIAN SNAKES. 43 



The googvapliical ran^e of this species extends over almost every 

 part of Australia, and the collection emhraces specimens from Cape York, 

 Adelaide, the Murray, and other localities. When full grown, this snake 

 is dangerous to man ; it is diurnal, and inhahits rocky localities ; young 

 individuals are frequently found under stones during the cold season, 

 while those of a more mature age retire into the ground. 



Percy Island Snake. Diemenia torquata. 



(Plate Xri, figs. 11 and 11a.) 

 Diemenia torquata. Gnthr., Ann., and Mag. of Nat. Hist., Ser. 3, vol. IX. p. 130. 



Scales in 15 rows. 



Abdominal plates, 206. 



Two anal plates. 



Subcaudals, 84/84. 



Total length, 22 inches 7 lines. 



Head, 7 lines. 



Tail, 6 inches. 



The following description is given by Dr. Giinther: — 

 Scales in fifteen rows, smooth. Brownish olive, each scale with a 

 short white line at the basal portion of its outer margin ; skin between the 

 scales black ; a brownish-black streak, edged with yellow, across the 

 rostral shield and the loreal region, extending to the orbit. Posterior 

 oculars yellow ; a yellow streak edged with black from the eye to the 

 angle of the mouth, continued into another similar band across the neck ; 

 another yellowish cross-band at some distance behind the former ; the 

 space between the two cross-bands dark brown, the whole forming a collar. 

 Chin yellowish, marbled with grey ; belly shining grey, a blackish band 

 along the middle of the anterior half of the belly ; tail reddish olive 

 posteriorly. 



Head flat; loreal replaced by the conjunction of four shields, as in 

 the typical species ; six upper labials, the third and fourth entering the 

 orbit ; two anterior temporals, the upper in contact with the lower post- 

 ocular, the lower intercalated between the fifth and sixth labials. Scales 

 without groove at the apex. 



This snake is from Percy Island, which lies off the north-east coast 

 of Australia, near Broad Sound. 



