104 RECOBDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM, 



NOTES ON SNAKES. 

 By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., Zoologist. 



The first two snakes below mentioned were included in a small 

 collection made by the Rev. W. G. Ivens in the Solomon Islands, 

 As both ditler somewhat from the descriptions of the respective 

 species, opportunity is taken to point out their individual 

 peculiarities. The third note deals with an Australian species 

 whose habitat has been the subject of some uncertainty. 



I. — Denisonia melanura, Boul. 

 Hoplocephalus melanurus, Proc. Zool. 1888, p. 88, and 1890, p. 30, 

 pi. ii., fig. 1. 



Denisonia melanura, Brit. Mus. Cat. Snakes (2nd ed.) iii., 1896, 

 p. 345. 



The most noticeable difference between our specimen of Deni- 

 sonia melanura and those previously described, is to be found in 

 the circumstance that it possesses six upper labials instead of 

 seven. The lost plate occurs between the fifth and the ultimate 

 labials, but fails to reach the mouth, as shown in the accompanying 

 figure. This is perhaps an individual peculiarity and worthy of notice 

 only as such. The frontal, however, is considerably longer than in 

 the British Museum specimens, being as long as the prefrontals 

 and internasals combined, and two-thirds the length of the parietals. 

 The tail is not black as described, but similar in color to the body, 

 likewise crossed by dark bands. 



Having but a single example, I hesitate to create a new species. 

 Pending further material, it may for the present be known as : — 



Denisonia melanura, var. houletigeri. 



The scale formula is as follows: Scales in 15 rows, ventrals 170 ; 

 anal divided ; sub-caudals 43. Total length 850 mm.; tail 125 mm. 



