BY GERARD KREFFT. 43 



female under stones exposed to the sun, generally in the be- 

 ginning of December, and perhaps earlier, as I have on more 

 than one occasion taken the young snakes at the end of that 

 month and in the beginning of January. This reptile is 

 generally found from two to three feet in length, very rarely 

 exceeding four feet. During the cold season the grey snake 

 retires under flat stones exposed to the sun ; it very seldom, if ever, 

 goes into the ground ; it is very sensitive to cold, and the least 

 frost suffices to destroy it. I have found sometimes five and 

 more of these reptiles under the same stone. 



Diemenia Superciliosa. Fischer. 

 Ringed Diemenia. 



Scales in 17 rows near neck. 

 Scales in 15 rows near tail. 

 Subcaudals 73/73. 

 Anal bifid. 

 Ventrals 228. 



Superciliaries larger than vertical ; occipitals widely forked, 

 rounded, broad ; rostral high, reaching to the surface of crown ; 

 one nasal, one anterior, two posterior oculars ; superciliaries pro- 

 minent above the eye ; anterior ocular grooved near the top ; pos- 

 terior frontals much larger than the anterior ones, bent down on 

 the sides and with nasal, anterior ocular, and second and third 

 upper labial replacing the loreal ; belly flat. Dark brown above, a 

 lighter band just crossing behind the occipitals ; side of face and 

 chin much lighter than the other parts of the body ; belly yel- 

 lowish, sides of ventrals and lower edge clouded with purple 

 grey, forming a series of irregular blotches, each ventral 

 with a distinct darkish streak on its lower edge. Half-grown and 

 sometimes adult individuals show traces of from seventy to seventy- 

 five black rings, which in the young snakes are very distinct. 

 The following description is applicable to young specimens up to 

 three years old :- 



Muzzle light brown ; a black triangular spot covering the re- 

 gion between the eyes and the occiput as far as the hinder margin 



