Zoology.'] 



NATUEAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. 



[Reptiles. 



its black upper margin easily distinguishes this beautiful little snake 

 from all others. It has been supposed hitherto to be peculiar to 

 Tasmania, but it certainly (like the H. superbus, also supposed not 

 to occur on the mainland) is a not uncommon species about Mel- 

 bourne. 



I subjoin particulars of four specimens to show the small range 

 of variations in the scales and plates. This species is too small to 

 produce any serious injury by its bite. 



Specimens. 



No. of Rows of Scales 

 on Back. 



Plates. 



Total. 



Middle. 



Base of 

 Tail. 



Ventral 



139 

 138 

 139 

 146 



Sub- 

 caudal. 



Length. 



Tail. 



Gape. 



1. Upper Yarra ... 



2. Bullarook Forest 



3. Yarra-bank 



4. Melbourne 



15 

 16 

 15 

 15 



14 

 14 

 14 

 14 



47 

 51 

 46 



43 



in. 

 13 

 8| 

 141 

 13|- 



in. 



1* 



2£ 

 2| 



lines. 

 4| 

 4 

 6 

 6 



The figured specimen is that from Yarra-bank, while the one from 

 Bullarook Forest was remarkable for a more general rusty reddish 

 coloring. 



The head only has been figured of this species before. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 11. — Fig. 2, ordinary specimen, natural size. Fig. 2a, side view of head, twice the 

 natural size, to show the white band from nostril along the labial plates. Fig. 2b, under side of 

 head and neck, twice the natural size, to show the form and coloring of the plates. Fig. 2c, upper 

 view of head, twice the natural size, to show the forms of the head plates. Fig. 2d, view of 

 palate, twice the natural size (in addition to the two rows on palate, there should be shown three 

 or four small solid teeth behind the poison fang ; they have disappeared in the lithographing). 

 Fig. 2e, under side of abdominal and subcaudal plates, twice the natural size. Fig. 2f, upper 

 side of end of tail, enlarged. Fig. 2g, eye, enlarged. Fig. 2h, some scales of back, enlarged. 



Frederick McCoy. 



Dec. n. 



[9] 



