AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 71 
TROPIDECHIS, Gunther. 
Tropidechis, Ginther, Ann. and Magaz, of Nat. Hist., 8rd Series, vol. XII, p. 368. 
This genus differs from Hoplocephalus in having the scales keeled. 
CLARENCE RiveR Snake. Tropidechis carinata. 
Hoplocephalus carinatus, Krefft, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1863, p. 86. 
Scales in 23 rows. 
Abdominal plates, 165. 
One anal plate. 
Subcaudal plates, 54. 
Total length, 38 inches. 
Head, 1+ inch. 
Tail, 6 inches. 
Body elongate and rounded ; tail rather short, not distinct from the 
trunk, tapering, ending in a conical spine. Head broad, quadrangular, 
distinct from the neck; muzzle short and broad; eye moderate, pupil 
rounded ; rostral broad, just reaching the surface of crown, with a groove 
along the lower edge; anterior frontals moderate; posterior frontals much 
larger, five-sided, rounded behind; vertical moderate, five-sided, with an 
acute angle behind ; superciliaries large, raised above the eye; occipitals 
moderate ; one anterior ocular, slightly grooved; two posterior ones; one 
large temporal shield, two smaller ones behind; no loreal, this being 
replaced by the nasal; the second upper labial, anterior ocular, and pos- 
terior frontal, bend down on the sides. Six upper labials, the third and 
fourth touching the orbit. Scales rather narrow and elongate, in twenty- 
three rows anteriorly, somewhat broader, and in nineteen rows posteriorly, 
strongly keeled, forming fourteen raised lines upon the back and sides; 
brownish olive above, with some irregular interrupted blackish rings, which 
become more and more indistinct towards the tail ; skin between and upon 
the underside of the scales black; belly whitish, clouded with purplish 
grey on the sides, much darker towards the tail, which is of a uniform 
purplish color below. 
The present species was first discovered by Mr. James F. Wilcox, 
of South Grafton, on the Clarence River, a naturalist to whom the Museum 
is much indebted for many valuable additions to its stores. Mr. Wilcox 
captured two specimens only. Since then, another has come to hand 
from Port Macquarie, on the Hastings River. 
