NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN TYPHLOPIDJE — "WAITE. 59 



2. Typhlops ruppelli, Jan. 



[Plate XV., Figs. 5 and 6.] 



It may occasion some little surprise that I seek to raise to 

 specific rank a species which is generally considered as identical 

 with T. nigrescens, Gray. This species is conmion in New 

 South Wales, and has a more or less conspicuous dark patch on 

 each side of the body near the anus. 



In commencing an examination of the large collection of 

 Australian Typhlopidcn in the Museum, I made a careful study 

 of T. nigrescens, and came to the conclusion that Peters was 

 correct in regarding it and T. ruppelli as one and the same 

 species.* During further investigation, however, I have dis- 

 covered examples which are so entirely distinct that I have no 

 longer any doubt as to the specific position of T. ruppelli. 



When describing this species, Jan remarksf that it is especially 

 characterised by a round black spot on each side of the anus. In 

 no example of T. nigrescens which I have examined is the spot 

 darker than the body scales, and only in extreme cases does the 

 color at all approach it. Moreover the coloration is confined to 

 three scales at most, and on account of the shortness of the tail 

 appears very close to the extremity of the body. (Plate xv., 

 fig. 5). In T. rilppelli the spot is extremely conspicuous, is 

 absolutely jet black and infinitely darker than any of the body 

 scales. It is of larye size, occupying several scales, and owing to 

 the greater relative length of tail is at some distance from the 

 extremity of the body. (Plate xv., fig. 6). 



The relative length of the tail is one of the most striking 

 points of difi"erence. In T. nigrescens it has about twelve scales 

 and is broader than long (Jan says a quarter longer than broad), 

 while in T. rilppelli there are about twenty-five scales, and the 

 length is fully twice the breadth. The former species is of more 

 robust form, has the posterior part of the body much thickened 

 and attains larger dimensions, reaching 570 millim. ; while the 

 latter is of more even diameter and smaller, none of our specimens 

 exceeding 340 millim. 



The scales on the head do not differ very materially : in 

 T. ruppelli the internasals approach more nearly together, and 

 the portion of the rostral between them is rather more acute than in 

 T. nigrescens. This is indicated in Jan's figures,! but as pointed 



* Monatsb. d. K. Akad. d. W. Berlin, 1865, p. 262. 

 t Icon. Gen. des Ophidiens, p. 14. 

 X Ibid, 9 Liv., pi. i., figs. 1 and 2, 



