44 AUSTEALIAN SNAKES. 



PSEUID013"AJ"^, Gilnther. 



Body and tail moderate ; belly flat ; head high, quadrangular, not 

 very distinct from neck, with moderate rounded muzzle ; rostral large, 

 much produced backwards ; anterior frontals smaller than posterior ones ; 

 vertical moderate ; no loreal — replaced by the conjunction of posterior 

 frontal, anterior ocular, second upper labial and posterior nasal ; one 

 anterior, two posterior oculars ; two nasals, nostril between ; scales smooth, 

 not much imbricate, in seventeen rows on the back ; anal bifid ; sub- 

 caudals two-rowed ; anterior ribs not longer than following, rather more 

 slender ; grooved fang in front, a series of smaller equal teeth behind. 



North Australian Banded Snake. Pseudonaja niichalis. 



(Plate XII, fig. 13.) 



Pseudonaja nuchalis, Gilnther, Cat. of Coliihr. Snakes in Col. Brit. Mus., p. 227. 



Scales in 17 rows ; on neck, in 19 or 21 rows. 



Two anal plates. 



Abdominals ? 



Subcaudals in t^vo series. 



Head (cleft of mouth), 1 inch. 



Tail, 12 inches. 



Total length, 64 inches. 



Front side of the vertical shield shorter than the longest of the 

 other edges ; anterior frontals with a convex edge behind, and a rather 

 obtuse angle in front ; brownish olive, with very broad dark cross-bands, 

 darkest on the neck ; cross-bands sometimes obsolete, except that on the 

 neck ; body and tail moderate, belly flat ; head moderate, quadrangular, 

 hardly distinct from neck, not depressed, with flat crown, and obtuse, 

 rounded muzzle of moderate length ; eye rather small ; rostral shield 

 much longer than broad, five-sided, so much produced backwards, as nearly 

 to cover entire front of muzzle, and extend between the anterior frontals, with 

 a right angle behind ; anterior frontals rather small, with four sides, the 

 hinder of which is convex ; posterior frontals moderate, bent on the sides ; 

 vertical moderate, five-sided, with convergent outer edges, and a right 



