Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IReptiles. 



twice as far relatively as the rostral shield of D. superciliosa or D. microlepidota, 

 equalling in backward extension the anterior and posterior fi-ontals together. The 

 posterior frontals are but little longer than the anterior ones, contrasting in this 

 respect strongly with D. microlepidota. The vertex plate has the pentagonal form, 

 broad front, and backward-converging sides of D. microlepidota, but is shorter and 

 more obtuse-angled behind, contrasting with the angular front and parallel sides of 

 the hexagonal, vertex plate of D. superciliosa. The occipital plates agree with D. 

 superciliosa in being shorter, broader, and widely rounded behind, contrasting in 

 this respect with D. microlepidota. Color : a dark, rich, warm sepia-brown above, 

 dark-greyish below, with lighter edges to scales ; plated part of head very dark- 

 brown or brownish-black. Hcales : moderate, 24 or 20 across neck, 17 across 

 middle of back, 15 over base of tail ; abdominal scales, 219, anal scale divided ; sub- 

 caudals, 55 on each side. Teeth: 16 in each palatine row; 7 on one side and 4 on 

 the other behind the fings. The anterior grooved ocular plate often appearing 

 (erroneously) divided into two. Length : total, 4 feet 8 inches ; tail, 8 inches. 



In the enormous size of the rostral shield, its great backward 

 extension over the crowai, and in the size and shape of the frontals 

 and vertex plate, this species agrees with the Pseudonaja nuchalis 

 of Giinther, but it is not banded, and presents no generic difference 

 fi*om the other two Brown Snakes above described, and certainly 

 belongs to the genus Diemenia. 



Explanation of Figukeb. 



Plate 23. — Fig. 4, head, natural size, viewed from above. Fig. 4a, side view of same 

 Bpecimen. 



Frederick McCoy. 



[11] 



