40 The Vertebrata of Tasmania. 



The most interesting of them are the large Grill-bird, Antho' 

 cliasra inauris ; the Tasmanian Parrakeet, Platycercus flaviventris ; 

 the large Quail, Synoicus diemensis ; and the great Water-hen, 

 Tribonyx mortierii. 



The reptiles, as might be expected from a cold climate, are 

 few in number. I do not think that Tasmania furnishes more 

 than two or three species to the Australian fauna. The well 

 known Hiunlia ivliiteii, the peculiar Omolepida casuarince, a Gram- 

 onatophora, two small species of Hiunlice, and a Cyclodus, (Cyclodus 

 nigroluteus) allied to our " Sleeping Lizard," are all the saurians 

 known to exist there. 



No tortoise inhabits the Tasmanian streams. Snakes abound, 

 but the number of species is limited to two highly venomous 

 kinds, and a small one, venomous but not dangerous. Not a 

 single innocuous snake has as yet been discovered. 



All the snakes belong to the peculiar Australian genus Hoplo- 

 cephalus, and are local varieties of continental forms. They 

 go under different names in Tasmania however, such as " Black 

 Snake," " Carpet Snake," and " Diamond Snake." 



The first two are varieties of our " Brown-banded Snake," Hoplo- 

 cephalus curtus, and named "Black Snake" if of a dark color; 

 and " Carpet Snake," if light, with the cross-bands visible. The 

 Museum is indebted to Mr. Masters for a fine series of both, and 

 having taken thirty-five young (some black, and some with visible 

 cross-bands) from the same mother, the identity of both is 

 sufficiently proved. 



The term " Carpet Snake " is not well chosen, and leads to 

 frequent mistakes here and in Tasmania, as our own " Carpet 

 Snake," (Jforelia variegata,) belongs to the Python tribe and is 

 not venomous. 



The second dangerous snake is Hoplocephalus supcrbus, the 

 "Tiger Snake" of Victoria, known to Tasmanians as the 

 " Diamond Snake," another popular name which leads to confusion 

 if we bear in mind that the " Diamond Snake " (Morelia spilotes) 

 of the south-eastern coast of New South Wales is a member 

 of the Python family and harmless. 



The third venomous snake is the Hoplocephalus coronoides, or 

 " Black-bellied Snake," of small size and wide range. This 

 snake, even when handled, seldom, if ever offers to bite, and the 

 wound caused by it is not as bad as the sting of a bee. 



Two other small snakes (Br achy so ma bimaculatum, and B. 

 calonotos), discovered by Mons. Yerreaux in 1844, are mentioned 

 by Messrs Dumeril and Bibron, as inhabitants of Tasmania ; 

 sinco then no more specimens have come to hand from the 

 same locality, and we may fairly conclude that the habitat given by 

 M. Yerreaux is erroneous. 



