1877.] FISHES FROM DUKE-OF*YORK ISLAND. 129 
three large round black spots on the side of the neck ; the first above 
the ear-opening, the second immediately behind it, the third above 
the axil; a series of numerous smaller black irregular spots along 
the upper part of the sides. Sides finely mottled with black strias. 
Lower parts whitish ; throat of one Specimen with three blackish 
longitudinal bands, the middle being much less distinct than the 
lateral. 
in. lin; 
PB tail epee AS ate 3 tet yan 8 0 
Distance of the snout from the eyerntr. cs. 33 
FA = Gal eee ae 9 
3 3 axle 5 
* A; vent nets) PT 
Length of fore limb.................._. 1 0 
Fe Chirnnpee: 0. oar terctad gins. 23 
Fa hind limb 2c, i Ata ee ee eae 
3 Secondeioe so alee. Acta Rs 2 
35 TeL ines Ts tet vods Rue 3 
s RGurtnufoers fee fe ts ene ets oie) 54 
Be init hy tae Ae 8 0 3 
LigLaruis MopgEstvs. 
A Snake widely spread in the Austro-Malayan region, Varying in 
some points which may generally be relied upon as constant charac- 
ters, and showing affinities to several very distinct types, hence often 
misunderstood, and appearing in the literature under many denomi- 
nations. It is distinguished by a depressed head, with rather broad 
snout, small eye, and subvertical pupil, appearing round when ex- 
panded. Normally two shields in front and behind the eye; but 
these shields are frequently confluent into one, sometimes on one 
side of the specimen only ; sometimes the lower preéocular coalesces 
with the loreal. Seven (very rarely eight) upper labials, the third and 
fourth entering the orbit. Arrangement of the temporals irregular 
and variable. Body elongate, slightly compressed, the ventral scutes 
showing more or less lateral keels, which disappear entirely in large 
females. Scales smooth, in seventeen rows. Ventral scutes varying 
between 180 and 212 ; analentire; subcaudals double, exceptionally 
confluent intoa single series. The maxillary series of teeth is formed 
by from ten to twelve teeth, the front teeth being the smallest ; they 
increase in Strength towards the middle of the bone, one or two 
before the penultimate being again smaller ; the penultimate is some- 
times as long as, sometimes a little longer than, the middle, some- 
times not separated by an interspace from the preceding, sometimes 
separated by a very small space only ; the last tooth generally, again, 
is small: it is not rarely altogether doubtful whether the dentition 
of a specimen should be considered diacranterian or syneranterian ; 
but it is never lycodont. 
The coloration is very uniform, above dark, below lighter, the 
dark colour sometimes descending on the scutes, the light sometimes 
Proc. Zoou. Soc.-—1877, No. IX. 9 
