BY GERARD KREFFT. 47 



lizards, insects, and the smaller mammalia, in particular the 

 young of Hydromys leucogaster. On one occasion 16 young of 

 this rat were taken out of a single Black Snake, so that the 

 reptile must have plundered four rats' nests. 



When irritated the Black Snake raises about two feet of its 

 body off the ground, flattens out the neck like a Cobra, and 

 then darts at its prey or enemy. The bite of this snake is 

 highly venomous, killing good sized dogs or goats within an 

 hour. 



The number of young brought forth in March generally 

 amounts to 15 or 20. During the winter the Black Snake retires 

 into the ground. 



I believe that the Black Snake is found in almost every part of 

 Australia. On the Murray and farther north a Snake occurs 

 which has generally been considered a variety of the Black Snake ; 

 it is identical with it in almost every particular except colour, 

 being brown instead of black, and orange beneath. Whether this 

 is really a distinct species or merely a variety is not quite certain. 

 Dr. Giinther has distinguished the brown variety, however, as 

 P. australis, and I mention this as it is a belief with some people 

 that the Brown Snake and the Black Snake are identical, and the 

 coloration sexual. It is to be remembered that the Brown 

 Snake of Sydney, (Diemenia supercilwsd) is generically distinct 

 from the Black Snake. 



HOPLOCEPHALUS. CuV. 



Hoplccephalus nigrescens* Gthr. 

 Black-backed Hoplocephalus. 



Scales in 15 rows. 

 Yentrals 173 to 176. 

 Anal entire. 

 Subcaudals 37. 



Scales in 15 rows, 6 upper labials, the second of which is 

 pointed above, the third truncated. Uniform bluish grey or 

 purple black above ; ventral shields whitish, blackish on the 



