BY GEEAED KREFFT. 57 



moderate, not distinct from neck, similar to Elaps ; rostral 

 shield very large, rounded, raised above the surface of snout ; 

 occipitals rather narrow ; two posterior oculars ; anterior large, 

 replacing the loreal together with the nasal ; hasal shield single, 

 pierced in the centre by the small nostril ; six upper labials, 

 third and fourth coming into the orbit ; one large temporal shield 

 in contact with the upper posterior ocular, two smaller ones 

 behind. Scales smooth, large, rather rounded behind, in fifteen 

 rows. Anal and subcaudals bifid. Tail ending in an obtuse conical 

 scale. Two small fangs in front of upper jaw, no other teeth 

 behind ; palatine and mandibulary teeth equal in length. Crown 

 of head and muzzle black ; a yellowish, in fresh specimens white, 

 band across the posterior frontals, a second on the neck ; body 

 and tail encircled by alternate black and white (in spirits) 

 rings. Length of cleft of mouth y ; length of tail 1|" ; total 

 length 28"." 



The ringed Yermicella, like all other nocturnal snakes, is 

 very seldom met with, and apparently little known to the 

 colonists. I often capture it during the cold season without 

 taking any precaution whatever, as I know from experience that 

 this gentle creature will never bite ; but even if it should do so, 

 the wound would be small and of no danger whatever. I have 

 never succeeded to make it bite of its own accord, but had to 

 open its mouth forcibly if I wished to try an experiment. White, 

 in his Voyage to New South Wales, gives a figure of this interest- 

 ing snake, but little was known until a few years ago with respect 

 to its geographical range. We find it as far south as Eden, Twofold 

 Bay ; it occurs again in Western Australia, is tolerably common 

 near Brisbane, and may probably be found much further north. 

 Mr. William Taylor has lately presented a young specimen of 

 this snake to the Museum, which was captured at the Culgoa 

 River ; it is not unlikely that this species is found all over the 

 continent from east to west. 



In its habits it is nocturnal, and closely allied to the genus 

 Elaps, inhabiting South America ; in fact it bears, like our Bat- 

 rachians, according to Giinther, a closer resemblance to the 

 South American than to the Indian fauna. 



