392 GERARD KREFFT 



question would prove identical with Euchelymys sulcifera (Gray) 

 than that it would be accepted as a real new species — but 

 this doubtfulness cannot be decided till more specimens come 

 to hand. The genus Euchelymys was established by D. r J. E. 

 Gray in 1871. Euchelymys (part.) Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. 

 Hist. 1871, VIII, pag. 118. The definition of the genus given 

 in the Zool. Soc. Proceedings for 1872, p. 508, corresponds 

 with the specimen under discussion and the specific characters 

 differ but slightly from D. r Gray's example obtained by the late 

 M. r Stutchbury in 1856 from north Australia. — The « white 

 streak » mentioned by D. r Gray extending from the angle of 

 the mouth to beneath the ear is orange in D'Albertis's specimen 

 and with the experience I have had with the reptiles of the 

 Australian Region I could easily trace the scarlet markings on 

 the now uniform yellow sternal plate. 



I regret very much that I have not had an opportunity to 

 obtain a look at the many new species of snakes and frogs 

 Signor D'Albertis obtained at New Guinea because a good many 

 of our ordinary species are (of course more or less modified) 

 represented in the big island. I only mention the highly va- 

 riable Lead-coloured snake (Diemenia superciliosa) known under 

 a dozen different names in various stages of growth. — The 

 Death Adder (Acantophis antarctica) smaller in size — but, as 

 D. r Gunther himself thinks , identical with ours. The Black snake 

 (Pseudeclds porphyriacus) and its brown orange bellied variety. 

 — A Green Treesnake (Dendrophis punctulata) and a brown one 

 (Dipsas f usca) differing but little from ordinary australian spe- 

 cies — the Treesnakes extend as far as the Solomons Group. Of 

 frogs we have to mention Pelodryns coeruleus the ordinary big 

 Green Tree Frog who announces the coming rain from its shel- 

 tered hiding place in Australian dwelling houses up country. 

 A variety of the fern-loving Hyla pliyllochroa, a species of 

 Platymantis and the mouse-eating Chiroleptes australis (?) as oc- 

 curing in New Guinea. Of higher vertebrata we find Avlechini, 

 Phascogales , Dactylopsilas and other small australian insectivorous 

 forms well represented on the other side of Torres straits , not to 



