40 MEMOIES OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



TOXICOCALAMUS LONGISSIMUS, Buultuger. 



In 1905 De Vis described a snake from Vauapa Valley, Papua, as Vanapina 

 lineata* both genus and species being recorded as new. His description concludes 

 with the query — "Is this ApistocaJamux loricr, Blgr. ?" Unfortunately the type 

 has disappeared, but there is no doubt that the genus Vanapina should be included 

 in Boulenger's Toxkocalamus,^ which De Vis had overlooked. It seems probable 

 that the actual species is also identical with T. longissinms. The differences to 

 be noted from the descriptions are very slight, but as Boulenger's specimens 

 came from Woodlark Island it may be that th(> mainland form is separable as 

 a variety. ApistovaJainiis loriit is, of course, quite distinct. The characteristics 

 of the six Papuan .snakes in this grouj) have been tabulated by Boi;lenger," who 

 states that the later genera Api'itocahnniis and Psruclapistocalaiinis are doubt- 

 fully distinct from 'fnxicocalainus. 



PSEUDELAPS HARRIETT.aE (Kuftt). 



(Plate XIV.) 



On .3rd August, IIHT, the writer secured from under a heap of rubbish 

 in a Brisbane garden tive young specimens of the White-crowned Snake — 

 f'srudclaps harrietta' (Krefft). These were each about 160 mm. in length and 

 liad evidently just emerged from tiie eggs, as seven empty egg-eases were foiuid 

 close by. These little snakes were lead-coloured above; the white circlet on the 

 head was very sharply defined and enclosed a shining black patch on the frontal 

 and parietal regions. The light longitudinal lines on the dorsal and lateral 

 scales of the body were prominent, and anterioi'ly these were continued on the 

 lateral scales until they terminated in the white markings of the lower labials. 

 In life the pupil is almost circular. In three specimens the nasal shield was 

 not in contact with the preocular. In all five the scales were in 15 rows, and 

 the anal was divided. The ventrals varied from 172 to 180 and the paired 

 subcaudals from 28 to 38 in addition to single terminal scale. 



I'srudr laps harriclta' often shows great agility wiien disturbed, and throws 

 its body from side to side with (|uick convulsive movements. Adult specimens 

 have the power of flattening themselves to a surprising extent. This snake will 

 sometimes raise the nntei-ior fourth oF the body almost vertically, whilst the head 

 is sliarply bent ;it a I'ight angle, the attitude bi'inging to mind some of the 

 illustrations of the Indian cobra. 



In life the general colour of adults is a dark slate, the light longitudinal 

 lines being bai'ely noticeable. The white markings on the head encircle a patch of 

 shining blael<. On the \entral surface the prevailing colour is a lighter slate than 

 that of the dorsum. I'si ii(h hips harry thr is (|uite a coiriinon snake in the 

 Brisbane district. 



' I'.' Vis, Ami,. QUI. .Mil... N,,. (i, I !lor., p. 48. 



■'' H lulenger, Ann. .Vlii;,'. .\iit. HIhI. 1 S!((i, xviii, [). I .'iL'. 



» Hjuliingiir. Ann. Miig. Nal. Hinl . IIMIK, i, p. 24i). 



