80 NOTES ON THE SNAKES OF TASMANIA, 



Hoploeephalus curtus, Giinther, Cat. Sn. Brit. Mus. p. 216 

 (1858); 



Krefft, Sn. Anst. p. 53 (1869); 



' McCoy, Prod. Zoo'. Vict. Vol. I. p. 11 



(1878); 



Smith, Nat. Tas. p. 89 (1909). 



Loina of the Aboriginals. 



Vernacular synonymy : — Tiger Snake = Brown-banded = 

 Black Snake (Dark var.) = Carpet 

 Snake (Light var.). 

 Habitat : — Tasmania, Australia. 



Description : — Central scale on head shield shaped 

 and almost as broad as long. Scales in 15-18 rows. Ab- 

 dominal plates 160 or more. 1 anal plate. Sub-caudals, 

 in one series 40-55. Average length. 3ft. 6in. to 5ft. 

 Head distinct from neck, body cylindrical. Colour vari- 

 able, from black to sand colour, with more or less promi- 

 nent yellowish bands. 



This species is more common in Tasmania tJhan 

 Denisonia, superha. It isi the most deadly of all Austra- 

 lian snakes, and care must be taken when dealing with a 

 representative of this species. The Vernacular nomen- 

 clature, like that of the rest of the Tasmauiaji snakes, 

 has been so abused that it is very difficult in some cases 

 to know which species is referred to. In the first place 

 bushmen usually refer to the dark coloured specimens as 

 Black Snakes and the lighter ones as Carpet Snakes. This 

 is courting confusion, for the truC' Black Snake (Pseudechis 

 porphyriacus) does not occur in Tasmania, nor does the 

 true Carpet Snake (Python variegatus). The latter is a 

 non-poisonous python growing to a length of 14 feet, and 

 is met with on the mainland. The correct name "Tiger" 

 should always be given to this snake, no matter what its 

 colour. The various hues cannot be regarded in the 

 classification of species. 



If a snake above the size of a whip snake is met with 

 in the Tasmanian bush it will be found that on the average 

 almost two out of every three are Tiger Snakes. If dis- 

 turbed in the ordinary way it will usually attempt a.n 

 immediate retreat, but if disturbed while mating or an- 

 noyed, its truly vicious temper is soon manifested. It 

 spreads out its neck to a large extent until the dark skin 

 can be seen between the scales, and assumesi the offensive 

 readily. In this characteristic it shows its similarity to 

 its closely related species, the cobra of India. 



