Zoology.'] 



NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. 



[Reptiles. 



in middle of body, 169 veutrals, aud 36 subeaiulals. The details of four other 

 specimeus are here tabulated to show observed variations : — 



* Two imperfectly developed, one between scales 20 and 21 ; the other between 25 and 26. 



Reference. — Naja curta (Schlegel), Essai sur la Physionomie des Serpens, 

 p. 486. Abbildung, t. 48, f. 19, 20. 



This species, which goes under the colonial name in Victoria of 

 Tiger Snake from its tawny cross-banded coloring, and ferocity, is 

 well-known to frequently inflict bites i-apidly fatal to men and dogs, 

 and is extremely vicious in disposition, reminding us strongly of its 

 near ally, the Cobra di capello of India, like which it flattens and 

 extends the skin of the side of the neck laterally when irritated, to 

 twice its width when quiet ; the black stretched skin being then very 

 visible between the separated scales. It is common, especially in 

 marshy places and near river-banks abont Melbourne, and in most 

 parts of the colony, as well as extending far beyond it to the wann 

 north, and just as abundantly to the cool south in Tasmania. 



The bands vary very much in distinctness, and are often very 

 obscure towards the head and tail ; in some specimens they are 

 rendered very conspicuous by an extension of some of the yellow- 

 ish color of the belly on to two or three rows of the lateral scales 

 between the ends of the bands. The blue on the chin is rai'ely 

 seen, and soon disapjiears in specmiens in spirit, exhibiting it when 

 alive. As in all snakes, the colors are most vivid just after ca.sting 

 the skin, and are darker and the markings less distinct before it. 

 The fangs are single or doul)le, small, under the junction of the 

 second and third labial plates ; one or two (rarely four) smaller 

 teeth under the anterior part of the fourth labial jjlate. Iris orange ; 

 the pupil seems circular, and not vertically elongate, as Schlegel 

 states in his " Essai sur la Pltysionomie des Serpetis" 



'[12] 



