116 OP HID I A. 



dinal series. Tail small, subconical, and tapering to a point. 

 Above bluish-black, irregularly spotted with yellow; beneath 

 yellowish, maculated with bluish-black. 



Syn.— /Serpens arabica, &c. Seba, Thes. Nat. II, 1734, 108. Tab. 103, fig. 1. 



Vljpera arc/us, Klein, Tent. 1755, 21, 



Coluber argus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1758, 389.— Daud. Hist. nat. Kept. VI, 1803, 

 312. 



Coluher spilotes, Lacep. Ann. Mus. hist. nat. lY, 1802, 19-4. 



JSfatrix argus, Merr. Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820, 90 & 126. 



Echidna spilotes, Mere, Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820, 150. 



Pytlion punctatus, Merr. Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820, 90. — FiTZ. Neue Class. Rapt. 

 1826, 54.— Bote, Isis. XX, 1826, 516. 



Leptophis punctulatus. Gray, in King's Voy. Austr. II, 1827, 432. 



LeptopJiis spilotus, Gray, in King's Voy. Austr. II, 1827, 433. 



Pytlion peronii, Cuv. Mus. Paris, 1827. — Less. Ann. Sci. nat. XIII, 1828, 391. — 

 Wagl. Desor, & Icon. Amph. 1833, Taf. i. — Schleq. Ess. physiogn. Serp. 1837,421. 

 PI. XV, figs. 11 & 12.— FiTZ. Syst. Kept. 1843, 24. 



Morelia punctata, Gray, Zool. Misc. 1842, 43. 



Morelia argus, DuM. & Bibr. Erpet. gen. VI, 1844, 385. 



Morelia spilotes, Gray, Catal. Snakes, Brit. Mus. 1849, 85. 



Australasian snake, Shaw, in ^Y^l^te's Voy. N. S.'Wales, 1790, 259 ; and, Gen. Zool. 

 Ill, ii, 1802, 505. Vignette on title page. 



Observ. — There are two prepared skins of this species in the collec- 

 tion we investigate ; the largest one measures about six feet in total 

 length. The dorsal scales increase in size from the middle region of 

 the back sideways; the series adjoining the abdominal scutellae being 

 very large. They are, likewise, larger towards the posterior portion 

 of the back and on the tail than anteriorly. As they increase in size 

 they become less lanceolated, assuming mor-e a truncated or rounded 

 outline. 



The upper regions are of a bluish-black hue, more or less intense ; 

 each scale bearing an elongated yellow spot upon its centre. Irregular 

 series of yellow blotches are formed by groups of four to six scales 

 entirely yellow. An angular yellow band may be observed on each 

 side of the occiput. The inferior regions are yellow, anteriorly spotted, 

 posteriorly maculated with bluish-black. A lateral series of orange 

 blotches may be observed along the middle region of the body. 



Log. — " Found in Mr. Couthouy's bed, on the ground floor of a 

 house near Sydney," Australia. 



