66 GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



Pseudechis porphyriacUS — Black Snake, and the most 

 common of the hirger venomous snakes of Australia. 



Brachysoma diadema — Scarlet-spotted Snake, which 

 seldom grows over a foot and a half in length. 



Tropidechis carinata — Keeled-scaled Snake. 



Vermicella annulata — Ringed Snake. 

 Pseudonaja nuchalis — Collared Snake. 



2. The Ili/drophicke, or Sea Snakes. — These are all venomous, 

 and are distinguished from land snakes by the formation of 

 the tail, which is flattened for swimming. They are air-breathing 

 animals, although living in the water, and the nostrils are on the 

 top of the snout. Three species found about Port Jackson are : — 



Pelamis bicolor — Yellow-bellied Sea Snake. 

 Platurus SCUtatus— Ringed Sea Snake. 

 Hydrophis elegans— Elegant Sea Snake. 



Sub-order III.— OPISTHOGLYPHA. In this sub- 

 order the head is lonsj, the fangs are behind, and there are several 

 teeth in front. It is not certain whether they are poisonous or 

 not. The American whipsnakes belong to this sub-order, but 

 they are not found in Australia. 



Sub-order IV.— AGLYPHODORTA. The snakes of 

 this order are not poisonous ; they have no grooved fangs, but 

 have numerous teeth. This order includes the Pythons or Rock 

 snakes, of which the Boa Constrictor is a notable example. Aus- 

 tralian specimens are : — 



Morelia spilotes — Diamond Snake. 

 „ variegata — Carpet Snake. 



Aspidiotes ramsayi — Rock snake, which grows to a 

 length of 20ft., and is one of the largest snakes in 

 Australia. 



Liasis childreni— Rock Snake. 

 Dendrophis punctulata — Green Tree Snake. 

 DipsaS fusca — Brown Tree Snake. 

 Nardoa gilberti — Gilbert's Rock Snake. 



