AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 61 



This species, the only member of its genus, is also 

 •commonly known as the Brown-banded Snake : it has 

 the reputation of being the most vicious, and also one 

 of the most deadly of the Australian Snakes. It is 

 found throughout nearly the whole of Australia and 

 Tasmania, and in the island colony is generally known 

 as Carpet Snake or Black Snake, dependent on the 

 individual being of the light or dark variety. In 

 general, the ground color varies from a light to a dark 

 brown, crossed by about fifty bands of a darker hue ; 

 these bands are sometimes scarcely discernable, and in 

 the dark variety, are almost lost in the depth of color, 

 which approximates to black ; beneath, the color is 

 yellow, becoming darker towards the tail. The Tiger 

 Snake produces about thirty living young, which assume 

 the characteristically aggressive attitude as soon as born. 

 I have generally found this snake on drier ground, 

 nmong fallen timber, and when discovered it usually 

 makes for the shelter of a log, whence it may be difficult 

 to dislodge ; an attempt always exciting, and not with- 

 out an element of danger. Specimens opened have 

 generally revealed the presence of lizards, and, no doubt, 

 these reptiles form a large proportion of the food of this 

 most agile snake. 



A Tiger Snake, five feet in length, is a reptile to 

 be avoided : example of six feet have been taken, but 

 such are very rare. 



