AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 79 
The geographical range of this species is very extensive; it inhabits 
almost every part of Australia, except the southern districts. The 
markings vary considerably in different individuals, but in all, complete 
rings are formed, the black bands being generally as large again as the 
white ones. Examples occur in which the black marks narrow very much 
on the belly, and others which have the head-shields rather irregular ; still 
it is difficult to find sufficient corresponding characters to warrant the 
establishment of a separate species. Since writing this, a very young 
Vermicella has been received from the Upper Burdekin, collected by Mr. 
Rainbird, for which we propose the specific name of lunulata; provided 
that older specimens, when discovered, will present the same markings. 
Our figures are somewhat enlarged. 
HALF-RINGED Snake. Vermicella lunulata. 
(Plate XII, figs. 14, 14a.) 
Scales in 15 rows. 
Abdominal plates, 220 or more. 
Two anal plates. 
Subcaudals, 26/26 or more. 
Total length, 83 inches. 
Head, less than + inch. 
Tail, 4 inch. 
Head very flat; rostral not quite so high as in /. annulata, vertical 
and occipitals more elongate ; head, body, and tail, covered by 59 elliptical 
spots, which, only in a few instances near the tail, join beneath, but very 
faint, and scarcely a line in width. On the middle of the back these spots 
are about 4 inch wide. 
Habitat, the Upper Burdekin. A single specimen in the Museum 
collection. 
ACANTHOPHIS, Daudin. 
Head depressed, shielded, prominent over the eyes; nostrils between 
two shields ; pupil erect, elliptical; tail ending in a recurved spine; sub- 
caudal plates one-rowed. Loreal shield absent; eyes surrounded beneath 
with a series of shields; labial shields large ; middle rows of scales keeled. 
