BY CLIVE E. LORD. 19 



Description: — Central scale on head three times as 

 long as broad. Scales in 15 rows. Abdominal plates 

 138-150. One anal plate. Sub-caudals 38-50. Averag© 

 length 1ft. 3in. to 1ft. 9in. Body elongated and round- 

 ed. Head and tail not distinct from trunk. Distinctive 

 white streak on lip. General colour very variable. 



The White-lipped Whip Snake is well named, for its 

 most distinctive feature consists of white markings on 

 the lip extending some distance back behind the eyes. In 

 some of the older works this species is referred to as the 

 "black-bellied snake." The true black-bellied snake 

 (Denisonia signata) does not occur in Tasmania, but is 

 found in New South Wales and Queensland. The White- 

 lipped Whip Snake is therefore the correct and also the 

 most appropriate designation. The only reason I can 

 advance for the synonym "black-bellied" is that the under 

 sixrface becomes dark in specimens preserved in spirit, 

 while the tipper surface is inclined to fade. 



This species may be met with in all localities. I 

 have observed it on the sea shoTe and on the tops of 

 mountains over 4,500ft. elevation. Its variety of habitat 

 is only equalled by its variety of colours, which may be 

 white, dark brown, green, red, or any intermediate shade. 

 Perhaps the most fashionable colour scheme is brown. It 

 can readily be identified by the white markings on the 

 lip, which, however, show considerable variation. Also- 

 by the long narrow central shield on the head. 



While this snake is usually treated with all the re- 

 spect due to its class, it is doubtful if there is an instance 

 of its bite proving fatal. The Tasmanian variety grows 

 tO' a larger size than the mainland form. Krefft has 

 stated (^) "This snake, even when handled, seldom, if ever, 

 offers to bitei, and the wound caiused by it is not as bad 

 as the sting of a bee.'"' 



Noteehis seutatus. 



Tiger Snake. 



Noteehis seutatus, Boulanger, Cat. Sn. Brit. Mus. Vol. III. 

 p. 351 (1896); 

 Waite, Aust. Snakes, p. 60 (1898); 



Lucas and Le Souef, An. Aust. p. 81 

 (1909); 



Br. Assocn. Ad. Sc. Tas. Hbk. p. 89 

 (1914). 



(4) P. & P. Eoy. Soc. Tas., 1868. 



