BY GEEAED KEEFFT. 37 



individuals which I had an opportunity to observe alive, not a 

 single one could be induced to inflict a wound. 



If we except Tasmania and the southern part of Victoria, we 

 find the Green Tree Snake from north to south, and from east to 

 west ; it frequents trees, feeds upon insects, frogs, lizards, small 

 birds and birds' eggs, and grows to a considerable length, but 

 seldom if ever exceeding 6 feet. 



I have reason to believe that the female is oviparous, laying 

 about 20 or more eggs in November or December ; young indi- 

 viduals differ considerably from the adult in colouring, being not 

 of so bright a green ; and having a grey instead of a light yellow 

 belly. The winter is generally passed under hollow logs or 

 beneath flat stones in sunny but often damp localities. 



3. DIPSADID.E, OR NOCTURNAL TREE-SNAKES. 



DIPSAS. Auct. 



DIPSAS FUSCA Gray ; 



The Brown Tree-Snake. 



Scales in 19 rows. 

 Anal entire. 

 Ventrals 236. 

 Subcaudals 87/87. 



Form slender, body and tail compressed, elongate head much 

 depressed, triangular, broad behind, very distinct from neck ; 

 scales on the vertebral line much larger, regularly six-sided, 

 vertical shield broad, occipitals obtuse behind, one loreal ; eight 

 upper labials, the third and fourth and sometimes the fifth touching 

 the orbit ; one anterior two posterior oculars ; eye large, pupil 

 elliptical ; nostril moderate, between two shields ; posterior 

 maxillary teeth longest and grooved. 



Above, light brown or reddish brown, with numerous black 

 rather oblique, sometimes obsolete cross bands ; belly uniform 

 salmon coloured. 



The present species has not been so much noticed in the 

 neighbourhood of Sydney as the Green Tree-snake, but this may 



