146 HEC0K1>S OK lUK At'Sll.'AI.lAN MUSEUM. 



1 propose calling the variety before me Noferlii^ srntatiie:, var. niijer, 

 and it may be distiuuuislied from A'. .<rittiitt's not only by its colour but by 

 having the cliin shields equal in length, while in the latter species (as 

 shown tlu'oiigliout the sei-ies) the postei-ior are distinctly longer than the 

 anterior. 



l)e>'rriptli>ii. — Eye longer than high, as long as its distance from the 

 mouth, half as long as its distance from the end of the snout. Pupil 

 round. Hostral broader than deep, the portion visible from above about 

 two thirds as long as the suture between tlie prefrontals. Internasals 

 once and one half as broad as deep, and about half the size of the pre- 

 frontals, which bend down over the side of the snout forming oblique 

 sutures with the nasals. Frontal once and one sixth as long as broad, 

 twice as bi-oad as the supraoculars on a line drawn across their centie ; it 

 is as long as the suture formed by the junction of the parietals and not 

 quite so long as its distance fi'oin the one of the snout. Parietals once and 

 two-thirds as long as the frontal. Nasal entire, angulate, in contact with 

 the single preocular. Nostril large, reaching to <he upper and lower 

 edges of the nasal shield. One preocular; two i)ost-oculars ; temporals 

 2 + 2, the lower anterior largest, wedged in between, and almost entirel}^ 

 separating the tifth and sixth u{)per labials, and in contact with the lower 

 post-ocular. There are several enlarged scales behind the temporals. 

 Six upj)ei' labials, the third and fourth entering the eye. Six lower 

 labials ; three are in contact with the anterioi- chin shield which is as long 

 as the posterior. Scales in 19 lows. Ventrals rounded, 184. Subcaudals 

 45, in a single low. Anal entire. Male. Total length, taken when 

 freshly captured, 1,430 mm., of which the tail is 1()2 mm. 



''iilonr. — From life. Head black. Back dark steel blue (in spirit, 

 black), most of the scales of the anterior portion being distinctly tinged 

 with brown along their free edges and at theii' bases. Ventral shields 

 shiny dark-blue grey (in spirit the anterior ones have the effect of being 

 marbled) and in some lights and angles sliow a brown tinge. Several of 

 tlie scales posterior to tlie chin shields on either side are white, while the 

 next five or six which bordc!' the ventrals along either side of the neck 

 are whitish on their outer edge. There is a white line across the lowest 

 visible portion of the i-ostial. 



Loi'alitij. — Deep (vi-eek, 20 miles from Kingscote, Kangaroo Islaml, 

 South -Australia. 



Described from a single specimen which was collected by Mr. K. le 

 (i. Troughton, of the Ansti-alian Museum staff, and by whom the colour 

 notes as above were made on the spot. 



liiiliils. — The inhabitants jf the island evidently being under the 

 impression that this sj»ecies was a variety of the black snake {l'.<ci(ili'rl,i^ 

 imiiihyrliicHs), described it as being moie sluggish than the mainland tvpe, 

 and having a dull coloured belly. Mr. Troughton Imind this specimen to 

 be anything but sluggish; he shot it while it was attempting to tlrag 

 away a lat which was caught in a trap, and which was alieady dead. It 

 was shaking the rat and trap violently, and when disturbed, begati to 



