52 THE PEOCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



On a new species of Hoplocephalus, from Sutton Forest, 

 By William Magleay, F.L.S. 



I am indebted to C S. Bransby, Esq., of Moss Yale, for a 

 species of Hoplocephalus, lately captured by him somewhere in 

 the Sutton Forest country. 



I find it to be quite distinct from any of the species hitherto 

 known or described. 



I subjoin a somewhat detailed description of the snake, which 

 I propose to name in honour of its discoverer. 



Hoplocephalus Bransbti. 



General form rather robust and cylindrical, the tail tapering 

 to a very fine point. Head scarcely broader than the neck, 

 rather flat and short, and rounded at the muzzle ; vertical shield 

 twice as long as wide and six-sided, the two anterior facing the 

 posterior frontals, and nearly in a straight line ; the two posterior 

 converging to a rather rounded angle, and those abutting on the 

 parietal shields parallel. The posterior frontals are large, five- 

 sided, and separated from the second upper labial by the nasal 

 and anterior oculars, the side abutting on the nasal being very 

 short. The anterior frontals are short (one third the length of 

 posterior), form a very straight suture with the posterior frontals, 

 and are prolonged into an acute angle between them and the 

 nasals. Nasal shield twice as long as high, with the nostril 

 small and in the middle, and the angle formed by the rostral and 

 anterior frontals very acute. Rostral shield low, not reaching 

 the dorsal surface of the head. The anterior ocular shield 

 pentagonal and emarginate in front ; both posterior oculars 

 small, the inferior oue largest. The superciliary shields are 

 nearly as broad as the vertical ; the occipitals are large and 

 divergent behind. The fourth lower labial very large. All the 

 head shields more or less covered with minute granules. The 

 eyes are moderately large, pupils round. The scales of the back 

 are in 15 rows before the middle of the body, and in 17 rows 

 behind, and are all of elongate form with the apex a little 

 rounded, except the two outer lateral rows which are broad and 



