THli rinXCIl'AL Sl'EClKS OF I'UlSOXUiS SXAKES 



m 



Fig. 52. — Denisonin snpcrba (The Copper- 

 head). 



anterior mandibular teeth greatly developed. Head fairly distinct 

 from the body ; eyes small, with round or vertically elliptic pupils ; 

 nasal shield entire or divided. Body cylindrical ; scales smooth, in 

 15 — 19 rows ; tail moderate or short ; subcaudals in a single row, 

 except in one species. 



According to the British 

 ]\Iuseum Catalogue, the genus 

 Denisonia includes twenty- 

 one species, the principal 

 characters of which are as 

 follows : — 



(1) D. superha (The Cop- 

 perhead. Fig. 5'2). — Scales in 

 15 — 17 rows; nasal shield 

 entire, in contact with the 

 prneocular ; ventral scales 145 — 160 ; subcaudals 41 — 50. 



Colour brownish to dark olive on the Imck, often yellow or 

 salmon-red on the sides ; belly yellowish or greyish-olive. 



Total length, 1,010 millimetres ; tail 1(30. 



Habitat : Xew South Wales, Southern Austraha, Tasmania. 



("2) D. coronata. — Scales in 15 rows ; 188 — 151 ventrals ; 88 — 

 51 subcaudals. 



Colour olive, with a black streak on 

 each side of the head ; belly yellowish 

 or pale olive. 



Total length, 480 millimetres ; 

 tail 95. 



Habitat: Western Australia and 

 New South Wales. 



(8) D. coronoides (fig. 58). — Scales in 15 rows ; 186 — 151 

 ventrals ; 89 — 57 subcaudals. 



Colour brown, lips yellow ; belly salmon-red to dark olive-grey ; 

 end of tail salmon-red. 



Total length, 440 millimetres; tail SU. 



Fig. 58. — Denisonia coronoides. 



