• SERPENTES. 133 



however, the black has changed to a very dark dull green, and the brown mark- 

 ings below to an olive color. 



This form differs from Pseudelaps muelleri (Schlegel) in having a much 

 shorter tail, fewer pairs of subcaudal scales, and a distinctive coloration. There 

 is a typical Papuan example in the A. E. Pratt collection from Fak Fak, Dutch 

 New Guinea. 



This subspecies may be identical with "P. schlegelii (Giinther)," which seems 

 distinguishable as a race of P. muelleri (Schl.). The color of this Djamna form 

 does not, however, seem within the variation limits of any described form. 



Acanthophis antarcticus (Shaw). 



Shaw, Nat. misc., 1794, 13, pi. 356 (not pi. 435, as cited by Boulenger). Boulenger, Cat. snakes 

 Brit, mus., 1896, 3, p. 355-356. 



Type locality: — "A native of Australasia." 



In life this snake acts much like a true viper. When angered it vibrates its 

 tail very rapidly. The tip of the tail is armed with an elongated spine-like scale. 

 This recalls the condition in Agkistrodon, which was considered by both Garman 

 and Stejneger (Garman, Bull. M. C. Z., 1888, 8, p. 259-268, pi. 1-2, Science, 

 1892, 20, p. 17, fig. 5: Stejneger, Kept. U. S. nat. mus. for 1893, 1895, p. 337-487, 

 pi. 1-19, fig. 1-70) as an early stage in the evolution of a rattle. In Australia 

 this species is said to be an inhabitant of dry sandy areas; in New Guinea 

 and Ceram, whence specimens were taken during February and March, 1907, 

 the creature was found in damp, heavily forested areas. It is, however, quite 

 impossible to distinguish between Australian, Papuan, and Moluccan specimens. 

 The range of variation for the whole species, which has been well described by 

 Boulenger, may occur in specimens from a restricted region. 



This species is known in many parts of Australia; from as much of Papua 

 as is now known herpetologically; and from Ceram, the Aru and the Ke Islands. 

 Its distribution in the Moluccas is curiously restricted. 



Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider). 

 Schneider, Hist. Amphib., 1801, 12, p. 283. Boulenger, Cat. snakes Brit, mus., 1896, 3, p. 366-367. 



Type locality: — Schneider merely states that the specimen which he de- 

 scribed was in the Museum Blochianum. At the end of his account he refers 

 to the third plate of Russell's account of Indian serpents as an excellent illustra- 

 tion of the species. 



A single large specimen of this dangerous species was killed while it was 

 lying in a road near Buitenzorg, in March, 1907. While it is very much less 



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