33 



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 Gunther. 



Tropidonotus hypomelas, Giinther, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1877, p. 130, fig. i. 

 Tropidonotus hypomelas^ 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 1 1 1 . 



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 Gunther. 



Tropidonotus conspicillatus, Gunther, 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, 



