362 COLUBRID. 
The prefrontal bones are produced posteriorly over the orbit, 
reaching the parietals in 22. semifasciatus. A small outer process is 
present on the ectopterygoid in R. bertholdi. 
Synopsis of the Species. 
I, Scales in 15 rows; rostral much broader than deep; nasal in 
contact with the preocular ; ventrals ] 12-126, 
1. bertholdi, p, 362. 
IL. Scales in 17 rows; ventrals 143-170. 
A. Nasal in contact with the preocular ; upper portion of rostral 
longer than its distance from the frontal. 
Frontal a little longer than broad, twice as 
broad as the supraocular...........-. 2. australis, p. 363. 
Frontal as broad as long, at least thrice as 
broad as the supraocular............ 3. semifasciatus, p. 363. 
B. Nasal widely separated from the preocular; upper portion of 
rostral a little shorter than its distance from the frontal. 
4. fasciolatus, p. 364. 
1. Rhynchelaps bertholdi*. 
Elaps bertholdi, Jan, Rev. § Mag. Zool. 1859, P: 123, Prodr. p. 16, 
pl. B (1859), and Icon, Gén. 43, pl. ii. fig. 5 (1873). 
Vermicella bertholdi, Giinth. Ann. §& Mag. N. H. (8) xv. 1865, 
p. 89; Zietz, Tr. R. Soc. S. Austral. x. 1888, p.3800; Douglas 
Ogilby, Rec. Austral, Mus. i. 1890, p. 80. 
Elaps mattazoi, Ferreira, Jorn. Se, Lisb. (2) ii. 1891, p. 93. 
Snout much depressed, moderately prominent, with obtusely 
angular edge. Eye measuring about two thirds its distance from 
the mouth. Rostral much broader than deep, obtuse-angled behind, 
its upper portion one half to three fourths as long as its distance 
from the frontal; internasals shorter than the prefrontals; frontal 
once and a half to twice as long as broad, a little longer than its 
distance from the end of the snout, shorter than the parietals; 
nasal elongate and in contact with the prieocular, which is widely 
separated from the frontal; two postoculars; temporals 1+1, 
auterior sometimes descending to the edge of the mouth; six 
upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye; three lower 
labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin- 
shields in contact with each other or separated by one scale. Scales 
in 15 rows. Ventrals 112-126; anal divided; subcaudals 15-25. 
Yellowish, with 19 to 40 black annuli, which are usually narrower 
than the interspaces ; head speckled with brown, with a large dark 
blotch on the parietals and temples. 
Total length 270 millim.; tail 22. 
Southern and Western Australia. 
* Type (Gottingen Museum) exemined, 
