AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 65 
TEMPORAL Desert Snake. Hoplocephalus iemporalis. 
(Plate VI, figs. 5, 5a.) 
Hoplocephalus temporalis, Giimther, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Series 8, vol. IX, 
p. 180, pl. IX, fig. 11. 
Scales in 19 rows. 
Abdominal plates, 129 to 132. 
One anal plate. 
Subcaudal plates in a single series, 35 to 37. 
Total length, 20 inches. ' 
Head, 2 inch. 
Tail, 23 inches. 
Scales in nineteen rows; six upper labials, the second of which is 
pointed above, the third truncated; temporal shields small, numerous, 
in three series ; two temporals are in contact with the postorbitals, and a 
third below is intercalated between the two posterior labials. 
Body stout, thick ; tail rather short; head short and broad, distinct 
from neck ; eye small, pupil subelliptical. Rostral shield triangular, nearly 
as high as broad, rounded above; anterior frontals small, broader than long, 
posterior frontals of moderate size, rounded posteriorly ; vertical five-sided, 
much longer than broad, with parallel outer edges, and a pointed posterior 
angle; occipitals of moderate size; two posterior oculars, one anterior 
just reaching to the upper surface of the head. The postfrontal, nasal, 
ante-orbital and second upper labial, meet at a point and replace the loreal. 
Six upper labials; the first is lower than the following, the third and fourth 
enter the orbit. The chief character by which the species may be readily 
distinguished is, the increased number of temporal shields, as stated above. 
Seales round the neck small. Chin-shields of, nearly equal size; several 
scales between the hinder chin-shields and the first ventral; 129-132 
ventrals, 1 anal, 35-37 subcaudals ; aseries of four teeth behind the grooved 
front tooth. Uniform olive-brown or chestnut-brown above, uniform 
yellowish below. 
The five specimens in the British Museum are from South Australia 
(locality unknown) ; the longest (adult female) is 20 inches, the head being 
2 inch and the tail 23 inches long. It feeds on frogs. The Australian 
Museum is in possession of specimens from King George’s Sound, collected 
by Mr. George Masters, who states that the largest snakes observed did 
not exceed 24 inches in length. The description given is by Dr. Gunther. 
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