86 



MR. G. KREFFT ON A NEW HOPLOCEPHALUS. [Mar. 24, 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Description of a New Species of Hoplocephalus with 

 Keeled Scales. By Gerard Krefft, Cork. Memb. 



HoPLOCEPHALUS CARINATUS, Sp. nOV. 



Scales in 23 rows. Anal entire. Ventrals 165. Subcaudals 54. 



Body elongate and rounded ; tail rather short, not distinct from the 

 trunk, tapering, ending in a conical spine. Head broad, quadrangular, 

 distinct from the neck ; muzzle short and broad ; eye moderate, impil 

 rounded ; rostral broad, just reaching the surface of crown, with a 

 groove along the lower edge ; anterior frontals moderate ; posterior 

 frontals much larger, five-sided, rounded behind. Vertical moderate, 

 five-sided, with an acute angle behind ; superciliaries large, raised 

 above the eye ; occipitals moderate ; one anterior ocular, slightly 

 grooved ; two posterior ones ; one large temporal shield, two smaller 

 ones behind ; no loreal, this being replaced by the nasal ; the second 

 upper labial, anterior ocular, and posterior frontal bend down on the 

 sides. Seven upper labials, the third and fourth touching the orbit. 



Scales rather narrow and elongate, in twenty-three rows anteriorly, 

 somewhat broader, and in nineteen rows posteriorly, strongly keeled, 

 forming fourteen raised lines upon the back and sides ; brownish 

 olive above, with some irregular interrupted blackish rings, which 

 become more and more obsolete towards the tail ; skin between and 

 upon the underside of the scales black ; belly whitish, clouded with 

 purplish grey on the sides, much darker towards the tail, which is 

 of a uniform purplish colour below. 



This Hoplocephahis differs from all the other known species in 

 the strongly keeled scales and the seven upper labial shields. Total 

 length 38". 



Discovered by Mr. James J. "Wilcox near Grafton, in the Clarence 

 River district. 



