40 AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 



Ramsay's Rock Snake. 



Aspidites ramsayi, Macleay. 



S. 53-63, Y. 293-299, A.l or 2, S.C. 53. 



Known only from Bourke and snrroiindiiig district ;: 



length, 6 feet. 



COLUBRINE SNAKES. 



Formerly, snakes were usnally separated into two 

 main sections, harmless, and venomous. Although 

 this may be a convenient arrangement, recent researches 

 show tliat it is not a proper one, and must, therefore, 

 give place to one based on natural characters. The 

 family Coluhridce, to which all the remaining Australian 

 Spakes belong, is split into three sections. The first 

 (^Aglypha) may be known by their solid teeth ; all its 

 members are therefore harmless. In the next section 

 (^Opisthoglyphn) some of the hinder fangs are grooved ; 

 and ^Yhile many of its representatives are venomous, 

 others are quite harudess. All the members of the 

 third section (Proteroglypha) are venomous, and may be 

 known by the presence of grooves in the front teeth of 

 the upper jaw. These grooves serve to conduct the 

 poison from the venom bag into the wound. 



HARMLESS COLUBRINE SNAKES. 



Section AGLYPIIA. 



But five Australian Snakes enter this section ; the- 

 fir5t is a Water Snake, which belongs to the same- 



