04 AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 



t Superb Snake. 



Denisonia superba, Giinther. 

 Plate 10. 



S. 15-17, V. 145-160, A. 1, S.C. 41-50. 



In Victoria this is known as the Copper-headed 

 Snake, and in Tasmania as the Carpet Snake ; while 

 Krefft applies the name Large-scaled Snake. Fairly 

 common in Tasmania, it is scarcer on the Continent, 

 and rare as we travel northward ; then found only on 

 the high lands, a feature in keeping with its cooler 

 habitat. On the mainland, its range extends from 

 Victoria to New South Wales and South Australia. 

 The adult is brown, or olive above, and yellowish, or olive 

 beneath, the scales bordering the ventrals yellow, or red. 

 The young (shown in the plate) has a black patch on the 

 nape, often bordered with red, and the head is lighter, or 

 more coppery than in the adult. This snake, which in 

 New South Wales is not usually distinguished from the 

 Black Snake, is equally vicious and deadly with the 

 Tiger Snake. In Tasmania this species attains a 

 length of from 5 to 6 feet, but in New South Wales it 

 is not known larger than about 4 feet. 



The remaining members of the genus are, for the 

 most part small species, and need be here little more 

 than mentioned. 



