AUSTEALIAN SNAKES. 55 



The scales of the body are always arranged in 15 rows, and are 

 consequently larger than those of H. curtus, which has from 17 to 19 

 rows ; no bands are formed, and though the neck is rather rounded, the 

 reptile appears to have the power of dilating it at will. 



A single individual from Port Lincoln shows a very dark crown, a 

 much distended neck, Avith two dai'ker streaks resembling the mai'ks on 

 the neck of the Indian Naja. In this variety the scales are also in 15 

 I'ows, but smaller and rather more triangular than in the Tasmanian 

 species. The range of this snake has been considered to be limited to 

 Tasmania, where it is known as the "Diamond Snake," but dm-ing the last 

 few years specimens from other parts of Australia have come to hand. Tlie 

 reptile inhabits Tasmania, Victoria, South and West Australia, and proljably 

 the western counties of New South Wales, though it has not yet been 

 found on the east coast. Its habits are probably similar to those of H. 

 curtus, which is fond of the water, and frequents extensive swamps and 

 reed beds, or the banks of rivers or creeks. Frogs, lizards, young water 

 rats, &c., appear to be the principal food of this snake. The female is said 

 to produce a large number of young, which, in Tasmania, are brought forth 

 about the end of December. The strength of its poison has not been tested 

 with certainty, as the snake is confounded, in Victoria in particular, with 

 the Tiger or BroAvn-banded Snake [S. curtus), which species is generally 

 alluded to when experiments have been made. From the examination of 

 its teeth, one would conclude that it is of a highly venomous nature. 

 Young specimens, if not more than two years old, have a very distinct 

 vertebral Hne, a scale wide from a little below the head to the end of the 

 tail ; the head is also lighter in color than in adults. 



Flinders' Snake. IloiJlocephalus ater. 



(Plate XI, fig. 11.) 

 Hoplocephalus ater, Krefft, Proc. Zool. Soc, June 26th. 1866. 



Scales in 17 rows. 



Abdominal plates, 162. 



One anal plate. 



Subcaudals, 47. 



Total length, about 30 inches. 



Head, f inch. 



Tail, 5 inches. 



