324 COLUBKID^. 



internasals not more than half the length of the praefrontals ; frontal 

 not broader than the supraocular, twice to twice and a half as long 

 as broad, considerably longer than its distance from the end of the 

 snout, a little shorter than the parietals ; nasal divided, in contact 

 with the single prseocular ; two postoculars ; temporals 2+2, lower 

 anterior wedged in between the fifth and sixth upper labials, and 

 sometimes reaching the lip; six upper labials, third and fourth 

 entering the eye ; three or four lower labials in contact with the 

 anterior chin-shields, which are a little shorter than the posterior. 

 Scales in 15 rows (17 on the neck). Ventrals 162-215; anal 

 divided ; subcaudals 79-99. Olive, reddish brown, or dark brown 

 above, most of the scales black at the base, some with light edges ; 

 snout and sides of the head speckled or vermiculated vrith dark 

 brown, and with an oblique dark streak below the eye to beyond 

 the commissure of the jaws ; these markings disappearing in full- 

 grown specimens ; lower parts yellowish, uniform or speckled with 

 olive, throat and anterior ventrals spotted with blackish in the 

 voung ; tail yellow or reddish. 



Total length 1010 millim. ; tail 240. 



Northern Australia and New Guinea. 



a, b. S (V. 163, 174 ; N.E. Australia. Sir J. Richardson [P.]. 



C. 95, 86). . (Types.) 



c-d. S (V. 175 ; C. 97) Port Darwin. R. G. S. Buckland, Esq. 



& ? (V. 215; 0.99). [0.]. 



e. Yg. (V. 162 ; 0. 79). Australia. 



Diemenia atra of Macleay is probably founded on a melanotic 

 specimen of this species. 



4. Diemenia ? ornaticeps. 



Elapocephalus ornaticeps, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. iV. S. W. ii. 



1878, p. 221. 

 Elapocranium ornaticeps, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. ix. 



1884, p. 560. 



Eye large. Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals 187 ; anal entire ; 

 subcaudals 90. Pale slate-colour above, each scale tipped with red ; 

 head brown, each shield beautifully marked with variously shaped 

 white-margined black patches ; an orange coUar on the nape ; slaty 

 white beneath, head and neck barred and spotted with black j end 

 of tail yellow. 



Total length 255 millim. ; tail 65. 



Port Darwin, Northern Australia. 



5. Diemenia modesta. 



Cacophia modesta, CHinth. Ann. 8f Mag. N. H. (4) ix. 1872, p. 35, 



pi. iii. fig. 0. 

 Furina ramsayi, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. W. x. 1885, p. 61. 



Eye moderate. Rostral a little broader than deep, the portion 

 visible from above about half as long as its distance from the 

 frontal ; internasals one half to two thirds as long as the prse- 



