267 



to two thirds the length of the praefrontals ; frontal as long 

 as or longer than its distance from the tip of the snout, shorter 

 than the parietals; one praeocular, two (three) postoculars; 

 temporals 2-12, lower anterior wedged in between the fifth 

 and sixth labials; six upper labials, third and fourth entering 

 the eye; three lower labials in contact with the anterior chin- 

 shields ; latter shorter than the posterior. Scales in 15 rows; 

 17 — 20 on the neck; ventrals 170 — 225; anal divided; sub- 

 caudals 69 — 105. 



Olive or reddish-brown or blackish above, the scales with black 

 narrow edges or tipped with black, sometimes the black colour 

 forms a reticulation. Lower surface olive, greyish or yellowish, 

 darker at the outer ends of the ventrals, sometimes darker 

 along the median line; tail yellow or orange at the end. Young 

 specimens with a dark line across the rostral and two oblique, 

 dark-edged yellow streaks, one in front, the other behind the 

 eye. Length of head and body 1080 mm. ; tail 340 mm. 



Habitat: New Guinea (Sermowai river!, lake Sentani !, 

 Humboldt Bay!, Lorentz river!, Merauke, Fly river. Port Mo- 

 resby, Madew on St. Joseph river 2 — 3000 feet). — Australia. 



2. Diemenia olivacea (Gray). 



L',codon oHvaceus^ Gray, Zool. Miscell. 1842, p. 54. 



Diemenia olivacea^ Boulenger, Cat. Sa. Ill 1896, p. 323, pi. XVIII, fig. 2 (s. syn.). 



Rostral more broad than deep, visible from above ; nasal 

 divided, in contact with the praeocular; internasals about half 

 the length of the praefrontals ; frontal much longer than its 

 distance from the tip of the snout, shorter than the parietals; 

 one prae- and two postoculars; temporals 2 + 2, lower anterior 

 wedged in between the fifth and sixth upper labials, sometimes 

 reaching the lip; six upper labials, third and fourth entering 

 the eye ; three or four lower labials in contact with the anterior 

 chin-shields; latter shorter than the posterior. Scales in 15 rows, 

 17 on the neck; ventrals 162 — 215; anal divided; subcaudals 



79—99- 



Olive, reddish or dark brown above, the greater part of the 



scales black at the base, some with light edges; snout and 



sides of head speckled or vermiculated with dark brown ; an 



oblique dark streak below the eye to beyond the angle of the 



mouth, disappearing in adult specimens. Lower .surface yel- 



