STUtMKS IN ACSTUAI-IAX i;K ITI I.KS KINCIlOltN. 145 



Colour. — As given \>y K leff t : — " (leiieral coloiit- black, chin shields 

 wliitisli on the outei" margin. Beneatli, hiaisli blitck, clouded with a 

 somewhat lighter tint on tlie posterior part." 



As the spec-iinen appears to-day in spirits, the markings remain 

 nuclianged, bat the tint of the iif)per parts b:is clianged to a dark olive 

 green. 



Described from a single specimen fi/om Flinders Range, South 

 Australia. Holotype in Australian Museum, Reg. no. 6577. 



KkV to the species ok Soti'cln's. 



(!) H upper lalnals. third and fourth entering the eye. 



a. Posterior chin shields largest. Colour above varying 

 shades of brown to olive, with dark cross bars, belly 

 yellowish scutalvs. 



h. Chin shields equal in length. Colour black above, belly 

 bluish grey, chin shields and surrounding scales 



whitish" ..."! .' scutotus var niger. 



(2) 5 upper labials, second and third entering the eye atei: 



NoTKCHis scuTAius, var. XKiEi;, var. nov. 



(Plate xxvi., figs. 6-8). 



A large Noteclii.< scutatiis before me from Kangaioo Island, South 

 Australia, is so distinct in its colouration from the typical form, and 

 from the black specimens from Tasmania referred to by Krefft,^ that I 

 hold the opinion that it should be provided with a varietal name. In 

 colour it closely resembles A^ titer, Krefft, but its scaling and lateral 

 head shields at once distinguish it from that species and place it as a 

 variety of N. soUtitus. I have examined a large series of the latter species 

 in the Australian Museum collection and one of these, a Tasmanian one, 

 is the nearest approach to the specimen before me, its colour being (in 

 spirits) a very dark olive above, while the ventrals are light grey with 

 dark blotches across their edges ; the lateral scales here and there show- 

 slight traces of the daik cross bauds which are re[»resen<ative of the 

 typical form. In this specimen the scales are in veiy irregular rows, 

 caused by theii' great variety of shapes and sizes, and they number 15, 16, 

 or 17 at different points, it being most difficult to follow one I'ow com- 

 pletely round the body. The remainder of the series examined, although 

 ranging from a co{)pery to an olive colour above, show distinct cross bais. 

 The majoiity have 19 rows of scales round the body, but four have 15 

 to 17. 



The frontal shield varies slightly in length in comparison to its 

 breadth, and may be sboitei' or longer than its distance from the end of 

 the snout. 



Krefft— Hnukes cf Aiisti;ilia. iHH9, p. 



