AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 53 



HOPLOCEPH^IiUS, Cuvir): 



Body and tail moderate, sometimes stout ; head quadrangular, 

 sometimes rather depressed, and not distinct from neck ; with flat crown, 

 and moderate rounded muzzle. Rostral moderate, no loreal — replaced by 

 the conjunction of posterior frontal, of anterior ocular, and of second upper 

 labial and nasal ; one anterior, and two posterior oculars ; one nasal, pierced 

 by the nostril. Scales smooth, and not much imbricated, in fifteen to 

 twenty-one rows. Anal and subcaudals entire. Grooved fang in front ; 

 a series of smaller equal teeth behind. (Viviparous.) 



Brown-banded Snake. Hoplocephalus curtus. 



(Plate IX and plate XI, fig. 6.) 

 Naja curta, SelilegeJ, Ess. II, p. 486, and Ahbihl, t, 48, f. 19, 20. Giinther, Cat. Coluh. 

 Snakes in CoU. Brit. Mm., p. 216. 



Scales in 18 rows anteriorly, and in 19 rows posteriorly. 



Abdominal plates, 170 or more. 



One anal plate. 



Subcaudals in a single series, 40 to 50. 



Total length, from 5 to 6 feet. 



Head, 1^ inch. 



Tail, 7 inches. 

 Body moderately elongate ; tail moderate, not distinct from trunk ; 

 head large and broad, cro^vn flat, and muzzle rounded. The middle plate 

 of the head (the vertical shield) is almost square — a distinguishing charac- 

 teristic between this snake and the Hoplocephalus superbus. 



The body scales are elongate, of equal size, and do not overlap each 

 other much ; there is a considerable piece of black skin between them, 

 which shews very distinctly when stretched, or when the reptile, being 

 angry, flattens its body. In this species the color varies considerably, 

 from grey to almost black, with distinct or indistinct bands, and straw 

 yellow or bright orange abdominal plates. In West Australian specimens 

 the liands are very dark and distinct, but like marking occurs in N. S. 

 Wales species also. The younger the snakes, the clearer the bands are 

 defined, and living subjects are generally copper-colored. 



The posterior abdominal plates and the subcaudals are darker and 

 more clouded with grey or black than the anterior ones. Tasmanian 

 sjiecimens differ ; they are either black, with a yellow, more or less spotted 



