224 MR. G. KREFFT ON AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. _ [Nov. 11, 
2. On a New Birp FrRoM THE ISLAND or MADAGASCAR. 
By Dr. G. Hartriavs, For. Memes. 
CucuLus RocuHU, sp. nov. Supra ardesiacus ; gutture pallidius 
cinereo ; pectore et abdomine in fundo albo-flavicantibus, fasciis 
rarioribus angustis nigricantibus ; subalaribus flavescenti-albi- 
dis, tenuissime ardesiaco fasciolatis ; subcaudalibus ochraceis, 
maculis nonnullis nigris ; rectricibus nigris, maculis rarioribus 
minutis albis prope scapam notatis, omnium apicibus albis ; ala 
extus unicolore, nigricante, remigum pogoniis internis albo 
fasciatis vel postice transversim maculatis ; maxilla nigricante ; 
mandibula flava, apice obscura; pedibus flavis. 
Long. 10-11"; rostr. a fr. 8!; al. 5! 11!; caud. 5! 7-8!". 
Syn. ‘ Cuculus canorus, L., common at Madagascar,”’ Desjardins, 
P. Z. 8. 1832, p.111. C. tenuirostris, Jules Verreaux, MS. (olim). 
Nearly allied to certain Indian species, but in all probability di- 
stinct. In an old MS. of my friend Jules Verreaux I find an accu- 
rate description of this species, under the often misused name of 
Cuculus tenuirostris. 
Named after Dr. S. Roch, who accompanied the mission sent last 
year by the Government of Mauritius to that of Madagascar. 
3. Norrs upon AUSTRALIAN SNAKES, AND THEIR GEOGRA- 
PHICAL DisrripuTion. By Grerarp Krerrt. 
Acanthophis antarctica.—This species, very common in the neigh- 
bourhood of Sydney, ranges over the whole continent, the southern 
part of Victoria excepted. I have captured specimens on the banks 
of the Murray, on the Darling, and in South Australia; and there 
are specimens in the Museum collection from all parts of this colony, 
also from Queensland. Dr. J. E. Gray mentions, in the ‘ British 
Museum Catalogue,’ that only the anterior dorsal scales are keeled ; 
but a great number of specimens which I have examined had eight 
rows of the dorsal scales distinctly keeled to the root of the tail. 
The different specimens vary much in colour and markings. 
Of Hydride the Australian Museum is in possession of a good 
many different species, but without notes of the localities where they 
were captured. Lapemis curtus and Pelamis bicolor are frequently 
found on this part of the Australian coast. Of the last-mentioned 
species I captured a specimen some months ago in Botany Bay, 
containing five young ones. 
Of Boide we have only one species in this neighbourhood—Mo- 
relia spilotes, which is one of the most common Snakes found here. 
I think it is not generally known that the range of this species is 
very limited, and that it is only found within a radius of 200 or 300 
miles from Sydney. On the Murray and Darling, in South and 
West Australia, and in the northern part of the continent, Morelia 
variegata represents the genus. I have never seen specimens of 
Morelia spilotes from the Clarence River, or from the country to 
