AUSTEALIAN SNAKES. 79 



The geographical range of this species is very extensive ; it inhabits 

 almost every part of Australia, except the southern districts. The 

 markings vary considerably in diiferent individuals, but in all, complete 

 rings are formed, the black bands being generally as large again as the 

 white ones. Examples occiu- in which the black marks narrow very mucli 

 on the belly, and others which have the head-shields rather ii-regular ; still 

 it is difficult to find sufficient corresponding characters to warrant the 

 establishment of a separate species. Since writing this, a very young 

 Vermicella has been received from the Upper Burdekin, collected by Mr. 

 K-ainbird, for which we propose the specific name of lunulata, provided 

 that older specimens, when discovered, will present the same markings. 

 Our figures are somewhat enlarged. 



Half-ringed Snake. Vermicella lunulata. 



(Plate XII, figs. 14, 14a.) 



Scales in 15 rows. 

 Abdominal plates, 220 or more. 

 Two anal plates. 

 Subcaudals, 26/26 or more. 

 Total length, 8^ inches. 

 Head, less than \ inch. 

 Tail, \ inch. 



Head very flat ; rostral not quite so high as in V. annnlata, vertical 

 and occipitals more elongate ; head, body, and tail, covered by 59 elliptical 

 spots, which, only in a few instances near the tail, join beneath, but very 

 faint, and scarcely a line in width. On the middle of the back these spots 

 are about J inch wdde. 



Habitat, the Upper Burdekin. A single specimen in the Museum 

 collection. 



ACAlsTTHOPHIS, Daudin. 



Head depressed, shielded, prominent over the eyes; nostrils between 

 two shields ; pupil erect, elliptical ; tail ending in a recurved spine ; sub- 

 caudal plates one-rowed. Loreal shield absent ; eyes surrounded beneath 

 with a series of shields ; labial shields large ; middle rows of scales keeled. 



