BY WILLIAM MACLEAY, F.L.S., &C. 67 



which is yellowish white. The abdominal plates are little more 

 than twice the widths of the body scales nearest them, which grow 

 rapidly narrower towards the back. The labial shields are 

 yellowish. 



I received from Mr. Boyd three specimens of this powerful 

 snake, and the above description is taken from the largest of the 

 three. 



The genus Nardoa was originally created by Gray in 1842, for 

 the rece})tion of two Snakes, one which he named Gilberti, from 

 Port Essington, the other Schlegelii, from New Ireland. The 

 first of these has since been got from Port Denison and Port 

 Darwin, but I am not aware that the New Ireland species has 

 ever been taken again. 



The present is a very distinct well marked species. The genus 

 will very probably be found in New Guinea. 



Tropidonotus ater. n. sp. 



Scales in 14 rows 



Abdominal Plates 147 



Anal Plate bifid 



Sub -caudal Plates 64/64 



Total length 30 inches 



Tail . . 5^ inches 



This a handsome active looking Snake. The head and head- 

 shields exactly correspond with those of T. picturattts, but the 

 body is of slighter make, and the tail is very fine and tapering. 

 The colour is jet black on the entire upper surface ; the 

 abdominal and sub-caudal plates are of a pinkish-white with a 

 dark band on the base of each plate, giving much the appearance 

 of the marking on the belly of the Black Snake — PseudecMs 

 2)or2)hyriacus. Three species of Trojndonotus are now known to 

 inhabit Australia, two of these T. angusticeps and the present 

 species T. ater have been described by me from specimens taken at 

 the Herbert River, and the third species T. picturatus I have also 

 seen from that district. 



