78 AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 
VERMICELLA, Gray. 
Body elongate, rounded ; tail very short; head similar to Hlaps ; 
one nasal, pierced by the nostril; no loreal—replaced by anterior ocular 
and nasal; one anterior, two posterior oculars. Scales smooth, not much 
imbricated, in fifteen rows; those of the vertebral line not larger ; anal 
and subcaudals bifid. Grooved minute fang in front; no other tooth 
behind. 
This genus shews the remarkable fact, that the Australian Conocerci, 
without smooth teeth behind the fang, are more closely allied to the 
American Elaps than to the East Indian ones. (Giinther.) 
BLACK AND WHITE RinGED Snake. Vermicella annulata. 
(Plate XI, figs. 12 and 12a.) 
Vermicella annulata, Gray, MSS. Brit. Mus., & Giinther, Cat. of Oolubr. Snakes in Coll. 
Brit. Mus., p. 236. 
Scales in 15 rows. 
Abdominal plates, 225. 
Two anal plates. 
Subcaudals, 18/18. 
Total length, 28 inches. 
Head, 4 inch. 
Tail, 14 inch. 
The following is Dr. Gimther’s description :— Body elongate, 
rounded, slightly compressed behind; tail very short; head moderate, 
not distinct from neck; rostral shield very large, rounded, raised above 
the surface of snout; occipitals rather narrow; two posterior oculars ; 
anterior large, replacing the loreal together with the nasal; nasal shield 
single, pierced in the centre by the small nostril; six upper labials, third 
and fourth coming into the orbit; one large temporal shield in contact 
with the upper posterior ocular, two smaller ones behind. Scales smooth, 
large, rather rounded behind, in fifteen rows. Anal and subcaudals bifid. 
Tail ending in an obtuse conical scale. Two small fangs in front of upper 
jaw, no other teeth behind; palatine and mandibulary teeth equal in 
length. Crown of head and muzzle black ; a yellowish (in fresh specimens 
white) band across the posterior frontals, a second on the neck; body and 
tail encircled by alternate black and white rings. Length of cleft of 
mouth, $”; length of tail, 14”; total, 28”.” 
