218, PSETTDECHIS. 331 



212 ; subcamdals 54-64 (34-49 single and 15-30 pairs). Upper 

 surface of head pale brown, of body and tail reddish brown, the 

 middle of each scale being of a lighter colour than the apex ; lower 

 parts uniform 5-ellowish white. 



Total length 910 millim'. ; tail 140. 



Port Darwin, Northern Australia. 



5. PseudecMs papuanus. 



Pseudechis papuanus, Peters 8f Doria, Ann. Mus, Genova, xiii. 1878, 

 p. 409. 



Eye small, its diameter less than its distance from the mouth. 

 Rostral broader than deep, the portion visible from above measuring 

 one third its distance from the frontal ; internasals two thirds the 

 length of the praefrontals ; frontal email, as broad as the supra- 

 ocular, once and a half as long as broad, as long as the prsefrontals, 

 half as long as the parietals ; posterior nasal in contact with the 

 single prseocular ; two postoculars ; temporals 2 + 2, lower anterior 

 very large and wedged in between the fifth and sixth labials ; six 

 upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye, third deeper than 

 fourth ; three lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, 

 which are a little shorter than the posterior. Scales in 19 or 21 

 rows (26 or 27 on the neck). Ventrals 221-224; anal divided; 

 subcaudals 49-55 (26-27- single and 23-28 pairs). Uniform 

 blackish, chin whitish. 



Total length 1900 millim. ; tail 21. 



South-eastern New Guinea. 



a. Head and neck of adult. Port Moresby. Rev. W. G. Turner [C.]. 



6. PseudecMs scutellatus. 

 Pseudechis scutellatus, Peters, Mem. Perl. Ac. 1867, p. 710. 



Eye moderate, its diameter exceeding its distance from the 

 mouth. Eostral as deep as broad or slightly broader than deep, 

 visible from above ; inte^rnasals shorter than the praefrontals ; frontal 

 nearly as broad as the supraocular, twice as long as broad, as long 

 as its distance from the rostral or the end of the snout, as long 

 as or shorter than the parietals ; posterior nasal in contact with or 

 "narrowly separated froiri th^ praeooular, which is single or divided ; 

 two postoculars ;. temporals 2-|-3, first lower wedged in betweeu 

 the fifth and sixth upper labials ; six upper labials, third and fourth 

 entering the eye ; three lower labials in contact with the anterior 

 chin-shields, which are as long as the posterior. Scales in 23 rows 

 (25 to 30 on the neck). Ventrals 230-233 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 

 61-78 pairs. Pale brown' or blackish brown above ; snout and sides 

 of head paler brown or yellowish ; belly yellowish, with very in^ 

 distinct small dark spots in the young. 



