BY GERARD KREFFT. 



53 



broad scale fitting the notch. Scales never in less than 18 

 rows ; above olive brown with from 60> to 70 darker cross-bands, 

 in some specimens the scales between the dark bands are an- 

 teriorly edged with yellow, the two outer rows of scales yellowish, 

 more or less clouded, but without any distinct spot in the centre 

 of each scale as in H. superlus. Belly yellow, ventral plates 

 frequently clouded or spotted with dark grey anteriorly, growing 

 darker towards the tail ; the subcaudals, which are entire, being 

 almost uniform blackish. 



The coloration of this snake varies considerably ; on the East 

 Coast light-brown specimens are much more frequent than dark 

 ones, whilst Western Australian snakes of this species are very 

 dark-brown, and the cross-bands remarkably distinct. This 

 reptile has been frequently alluded to by some authors as H. 

 8uperbu8 y but I have always maintained that no continental species 

 has ever been found with 15 rows of scales, and the vertical 

 shield more than twice as long as broad ; the main characters 

 by which the two snakes can easily^be distinguished. I am 

 certain that more than 300 specimens have passed through my 

 hands, and in not one instance did they answer to Dr. Gunther's 

 description of H. superbus. 



I will give here the main points in which both Snakes differ : 



H. superbus. 

 Scale* in 15 rows. 

 Tail short, distinct from trunk. 

 Head remarkably small, scarcely j 

 distinct from trunk. 



Neck rather rounded. 



Scales of Head more or less elongate ; 



vertical, more than twice as long 



as broad. 



Coloration uniform brown, 2 outer 

 rows of scales with reddish or 

 yellow centre spot. 



Habitat Tasmania. 



Synonym Diamond Snake of the 

 Tasmanians. 



H. curtus. 



18 to 19 rows. 



Tail not distinct from trunk. 



Head very broad, as large again 

 as H. Superbut, and distinct 

 from neck. 



Neck very flat. 



Scales of Head very broad, in par- 

 ticular the vertical, which with- 

 out the anterior angle would 

 form a square. 



Coloration brown banded, 2 outer 

 rows of scales paler, or clouded 

 with yellow and greyish. 



Habitat Australian continent. 



Synonyms Brown Banded Snake, 

 N. 8. Wales ; Tiger Snake, Vic- 

 toria. 



