AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 71 



TEOPII3EOIIIS, Giinther. 

 Tropidechis, Giinther, Ann. and Magaz. of Nat. Hist., 3rd Series, vol. XII, p. 363. 



This genus differs from Iloplocephalus in having the scales keeled. 

 Clarence River Snake. Tropidechis carinata. 



Hoplocephalus carinatus, Krefft, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1S63, p. 86. 



Scales in 23 rows. 



Abdominal plates, 165. 



One anal plate. 



Subcaudal plates, 51. 



Total length, 38 inches. 



Head, 1^ inch. 



Tail, 6 inches. 

 Body elongate and rounded ; tail rather short, not distinct from the 

 trunk, tapering, ending in a conical spine. Head broad, quadrangular, 

 distinct from the neck ; muzzle short and broad ; eye moderate, pupil 

 rounded ; rostral broad, just reaching the surface of crown, with a groove 

 along the lower edge ; anterior frontals moderate ; posterior frontals much 

 larger, five-sided, rounded behind ; vertical moderate, five-sided, with an 

 acute angle behind ; superciliaries large, raised above the eye ; occipitals 

 moderate ; one anterior ocular, slightly grooved ; two posterior ones ; one 

 large temporal shield, two smaller ones behind; no loreal, this being 

 replaced by the nasal ; the second upper labial, anterior ocular, and pos- 

 terior frontal, bend down on the sides. Six upper labials, the third and 

 fourth touching the orbit. Scales rather narrow and elongate, in twenty- 

 three rows anteriorly, somewhat broader, and in nineteen rows posteriorly, 

 strongly keeled, forming fourteen raised lines upon the back and sides ; 

 brownish olive above, with some irregular interrupted blackish rings, which 

 become more and more indistinct towards the tail ; skin between and upon 

 the underside of the scales black ; belly whitish, clouded mth purplish 

 grey on the sides, much darker towards the tail, which is of a uniform 

 purplish color below. 



The present species was first discovered by Mr. James F. Wilcox, 

 of South Grafton, on the Clarence River, a naturalist to whom the Museum 

 is much indebted for many valuable additions to its stores. Mr. Wilcox 

 captured two specimens only. Since then, another has come to hand 

 from Port Macquarie, on the Hastings River. 



