in the Collection of the British Museum. 361 



one behind the other_, cover the superciHary region. Twelve 

 upper labials, the seventh and eighth of which enter the orbit ; 

 mental shield triangular, broad. Scales strongly keeled, in 32 

 or 33 series. Ventrals 180; subcaudals 44. 



There are two distinct variations of colour, as in the other 

 species of this genus : — 



a. Light brownish, with large, angular, partly confluent dark- 

 brown spots along the back; small black dots, irregularly disposed, 

 along the margin of the abdomen. A brown band from the 

 nostril through the eye to the side of the neck. 



/3. Uniform reddish brown. 



Pelew Islands. Total length 18^ inches. 



This genus differs from Diemenia in having a single nasal 



Cacophis. 



s genus differs fron 

 shield. 



Cacophis Krefftii. 



Scales smooth, in 15 rows. Head rather depressed, of mode- 

 rate width and length. Rostral shield nearly twice as broad as 

 high, scarcely reaching the upper surface of the head ; anterior 

 frontals not much smaller than posterior ; vertical rather longer 

 than broad, six-sided, with an obtuse angle in front, and with a 

 somewhat acute one behind ; occipitals rounded behind, nearly 

 as long as the vertical and posterior frontals together. Nasal 

 elongate, simple, pierced by the nostril in the middle, in contact 

 with the single prseocular (there is a small shield intercalated 

 between the posterior frontal and the hind portion of the 

 nasal*). Two postoculars. Upper labials 6 ; temporals 1 + 2. 

 Three pairs of small chin-shields, subequal in size. Eye rather 

 small, with the pupil round. Body rounded, of moderate length ; 

 tail rather short. Ventrals 156; anal bifid; subcaudals 28. 



Upper parts black,each scale of the outer series with an indistinct 

 dark violet streak. A yellowish band commences on the snout 

 and passes through the eye and round the nape, where it is pure 

 yellow, whilst its anterior and lateral portions are dotted with 

 black; it is also longitudinally %divided by a black line running 

 from the eye for some distance backwards. Lower jaw brownish, 

 marbled with yellowish. Each ventral shield yellow, with a 

 black outer and hinder margin ; a black band along the middle 

 of the subcaudals. 



Two specimens of this pretty species have been sent by Mr. 

 G. Krefft; it is probably from Port Macquarie. The larger 

 specimen is only 12 inches long, the tail measuring 1^ inch. 



* This is an individual peculiarity, as this small shield is united with 

 the posterior frontal in the smaller specimen. 



Ann. &; Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. xii. 24 



