269 



Fig. 109. Pscudechis austrnlis (Gray). 

 Side view of head. 



eye, third larger than fourth ; three lower labials in contact 

 with the anterior chin-shields; latter shorter than the posterior, 



which are separated 



by a scale. Scales in 



17 rows, 19 or 20 



on the neck; ventrals 



199 — 220; anal divided; 



subcaudals 57 — 70, the 



26 — 41 anterior single. 



Pale brown above ; 



yellowish below. 



Length of head and 



body 910 mm.; tail 



170 mm. 



Type-specimen examined in the British Museum. 



Habitat: S. New Guinea (Etna Bay!). — N. and N. E. 



Australia. 



2. Pseudechis papuanus Ptrs. & Doria. 



Psctidechis papuanus^ Peters & Doria, Ann. Mus. Genova XIII 1878, p. 409. 

 Pseudechis papiia/ius^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Ill 1896, p. 331. 



Eye smaller than its distance from the mouth. Rostral 

 more broad than deep, visible from above; posterior nasal in 

 contact with the praeocular; internasals smaller than the prae- 

 frontals; frontal small, as long as the praefrontals, half as long 

 as the parietals ; one prae- and two postoculars; temporals 

 2 + 2, lower anterior large, wedged in between the fifth and 

 sixth labials; six upper labials, third and fourth entering the 

 eye, third larger than fourth; three lower labials in contact 

 with the anterior chin-shields ; latter shorter than the posterior, 

 which are separated by two scales. Scales in 19 or 21 rows, 

 26 or 27 on the neck; ventrals 221 — 224; anal divided; sub- 

 caudals 49 — 61 ; the 26 or 27 anterior single. 



Blackish above and below, chin whitish. Length of head 

 and body 1690 mm.; tail 210 mm. 



Habitat: S. E. New Guinea (Yule Island, Port Moresby, 

 Rigo !). 



3. Pseudechis scutellatus Peters. 



Pseudechis scutellattis^ Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac, 1867, p. 710. 

 Pseudechis scutellatus^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Ill 1896, p. 331. 



