36 ON THE SNAKES OF SYDNEY, 



very obtuse, three times the length of its diameter, and ending 

 in a small spine. 



The color of this harmless little reptile is brownish grey 

 above, and yellowish below; each scale of the back being 

 bordered with yellowish white, the markings becoming obsolete 

 towards the tail ; the form is cylindrical, enlarging towards the 

 tail. 



Of all our harmless snakes, the present species is the least 

 Offensive ; it lives under ground, and is frequently found in Ants' 

 nests, upon the Iarva3 of which it principally exists ; its total 

 length does not exceed 18 inches. I believe that the present 

 species has a very wide range, and that it will be found to inhabit 

 the greater part of the Australian Continent ; specimens from 

 the Murray River, from South Australia, and from Queensland 

 are in the collection of the Australian Museum. 



2. DENDROPHIM; ; OR TREE-SNAKES. 



Dendrophis. Boie. 

 Dendrophis punctulata. Gray. 

 The Green Tree-Snake. 



Scales in 12 or 13 rows. 

 Anal bifid. 

 Yentrals 207. 

 Subcaudals 106/106. 



Of slender form, above green or pale olive brown, beneath 

 bright yellow, sides and under parts of head the same colour; eyes 

 large, pupil rounded. Outer edge of scales white, as may be seen 

 on stretching the skin. 



1 anterior 2 posterior oculars, scales smooth, those of the 

 vertebral row much larger, polygonal ; scales of outer rows elon- 

 gated, narrow, quadrilateral, and very imbricated. 



Maxillary teeth smooth and of equal length. 



This snake, one of the few not venomous Australian species, 

 is a gentle harmless creature, which at any time may be handled 

 with impunity ; it nerer attempts to bite, and of many hundred 



