BY GERARD KREFFT. 31 



South East Coast excepted ; they differ from the Diamond Snake 

 in nothing but their markings, which consist of a series of brown 

 blotches with darker margins, whilst the Diamond Snake is of a 

 glossy bluish black, with a bright yellow spot in the centre of 

 nearly every scale. 



The Carpet Snake does not appear to be so common on the 

 plains or in the mountain districts, and a single specimen only 

 was secured ; this snake feeds upon birds, small mammals, &c., 

 and produces a large number of eggs ; from 20 to 30 as the natives 

 informed me. 



24. ACANTHOPHIS ANTARCTICA. 



The Death Adder. 



Of this highly venomous snake, I obtained but a single speci- 

 men at Lake Boga ; it brings forth about 10 or 12 young ones. 



25. DlEMENlA PSAMMOPHIS. 



Grey Diemenia. 



The present species so common near Sydney is not often met 

 with on the Murray, only one specimen being secured during 6 

 months ; its bite is not considered dangerous, causing only a 

 slight irritation, not as bad as the sting of a bee ; the total length 

 seldom exceeds 3 feet. 



26. DIEMENIA SUPERCILIOSA. 

 Brown Snake. 



A species, which like many others, ranges from the East to the 

 West Coast, and perhaps extends over the whole continent, as 

 I have received specimens from Cape York. Near Sydney, and 

 along the East Coast, the young are distinctly black, banded 

 with a black patch upon the head ; but the young found on the 

 Lachlan and in other localities to the westward are not banded. 

 I have received specimens from Adelaide which are plain coloured 

 with black patches upon head and neck, but without bands. In 

 a few years these bands and black spots disappear more or less, 

 and the adult snake is generally of an uniform brown color; there 

 are some individuals on the coast, however, in which the bands 

 may be traced when full grown. In the specimens taken on the 

 Murray no bands or black marks could be detected. 



