83 



times nine) upper labials, third to fifth or fourth to sixth 

 entering the eye; four or five lower labials in contact with 

 the anterior chin-shields ; latter shorter than the posterior. Scales 

 in 17 rows, strongly keeled, those of the outer row feebly 

 keeled; ventrals 141 — 158; anal divided; subcaudals 50 — 85. 



Yellow, reddish or grey above, with dark or black transverse 

 bars or alternating spots; upper labials yellow with black 

 sutures. Lower surface yellowish, uniform or with dark dots. 

 Length of head and body 820 mm.; tail 260 mm. 



Habitat: Aru Islands; New Guinea (Mimika and Lorentz! 

 rivers, Sekanto river!, lake Sentani!, Begowre and Sangke 

 rivers!, Humboldt Bay!, Mosso, Haveri, Moroka 2300 feet, 

 Dinawa). 



13. Tropidonotus hypomelas Giinther. 



Tropidonottts hypomelas^ Giinther, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1877, p. 130, fig. I. 

 Tropidonotus hypoinelas^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. I 1893, p. 264. 



Eye very large; rostral broad, visible from above; internasals 

 truncate anteriorly, as long as the praefrontals; frontal as long 

 as its distance from the tip of the snout, shorter than the 

 parietals; loreal as long as deep; two prae- and three post- 

 oculars; temporals 2 + 3; nine upper labials, fifth and sixth 

 entering the eye; five lower labials in contact with the anterior 

 chin-shields; latter shorter than the posterior. Body slender; 

 scales in 17 rows, all keeled; ventrals 182 — 196; anal divided; 

 subcaudals 99 — in. 



Olive-brown above, with small black spots; a row of lighter 

 spots along each side on the posterior part of the body; upper 

 lip white with black sutures. Lower surface white in front, 

 black posteriorly, with a median series of black spots. Length 

 of head and body 690 mm.; tail 270 mm. 



Type-specimen examined in the British Museum. 



Habitat: New Guinea (Kaiserin-Augusta river). — Duke 

 of York Island!; Bismarck Archipelago. 



14. Tropidonotus conspicillatus Giinther. 



Tropidonotus conspicillatus^ Giinther, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 596, fig. 4. 

 Tropidonotus conspicillatus^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. I 1893, p. 222. 



Eye moderate; nasal entire or partly divided ; rostral scarcely 

 visible from above; internasals broadly truncate anteriorly, 



