10 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN TYPHLOPIDiE, 



Tyj}e. — In the Macleay Museum, Sydney. No. 3. 



Note. — Connecting the parietal with the fourth upper labial is 

 a broadened scale ; this is shown in figs. 1 and 3, but I have not 

 included it in the general description, as the fusion of two or more 

 scales is a common occurrence in the Ophidia, and is very probably 

 in this instance an individual peculiarity. I mention it here, 

 however, as the scales on both sides of the head are precisely alike. 



The completely divided nasal is a character not shared by any 

 Australian form hitherto described, and at once serves to dis- 

 tinguish this species. 



I am indebted to the Trustees of the Macleay Museum for 

 having kindly granted me permission to describe this, the only 

 new species in the series. 



5. Typhlops diversus, sp.nov. 

 (PI. I. figs. 4-6.) 



Habit slender, slightly thickened posteriorly. Snout rounded. 

 Rostral nearly half the width of the head, extending almost to the 

 level of the eyes, slightly narrowed in front, the portion visible 

 from below about as long as broad ; nasal incompletely divided, 

 the fissure extending from the anterior edge of the preocular to 

 slightly beyond the nostril ; nostrils lateral ; preocular narrower 

 than the ocular, in contact with the second and third labials. 

 Eye distinct. Internasal, supraoculars, and parietals larger than 

 the body scales. Four upper labials. Diameter of the middle of 

 the body about sixty -seven times in the total length. Tail a third 

 longer than broad, terminating in a very minute spine which 

 scarcely projects beyond the scales. Twenty scales round the 

 body. 



Colours. — In spirits, light horn-colour throughout, slightly darker 

 on the dorsal surface. 



Dimensions. 



Total length 212 mm. Length of head 3 mm. 



Width of head 3 mm. Width of body 3-2 mm. 



Length of tail 4 mm. Width of tail 3 mm. 



