SERPEXTS. 



383 



ing from it in liaving the vcntrals ck'ei)Iy cut out on each side, is II. stephensii, which 

 inhabits the neighborliood of Hastings Kiver. II. coronoides is jjcculiar to Tasma- 

 nia. II. uigrescens is unique in ha\ing the tongue white. Thougli first only found 

 around Port Jackson, it has since been obtained from points along the coast further 

 noi-th. It is closely allied to Vermicella, like which ophidian it allows itself to be 

 handled without offering resistance. 



Tropidechis carinata resembles in many points the members of the jirevious genus, 

 but has the scales keeled, which peculiarity, with others, gives it the appearance of 

 some harmless Tropidonotus picturatus, from which animal, however, it can be easily 

 separated by counting the number of rows of scales, the venomous snake having 

 twenty-three rows, while Tropldonotus has only fifteen. 



Mii^Jfe^ 



Fig. 222. — Catlophis mactUandi and C. annularis. 



It has been noticed that venomous snakes often have the temporal shield inserted 

 between the two last upper labials ; this arrangement is illustrated by the genus just 

 treated. 



The genus Pseudechis has the scales arranged in seventeen rows, the anterior sub- 

 caud.als entire, while the hinder ones are generally divided ; behind the grooved fangs 

 are smaller simple teeth. The first species, P. jjoip/ii/rkecus, a black snake, grows to a 

 length of six feet and is the most common Australian venomous sn.iki\ and was first 

 classified with the cobras by the early writers, being, as .already said, one of those 

 ophidians which on irritation exjiand the skin of the neck. It is fond of moist locali- 

 ties, and is quite active when in the water, where it catches frogs, insects, and small 

 mammals ; as many as sixteen young water-rats {Hijdromys leiicor/aster) have been 

 taken from its stomach. The bite is extremely venomous, soon i)roducing the death 

 of a fair-sized animal. It is found all over Australia, but has never been caiitured in 

 Tasmania. 



