104 
RECOUPS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 
NOTES ON SNAKES. 
By Edgar R. Waite, E.L.S., Zoologist. 
The first two snakes below mentioned were included in a small 
collection made by the Rev. W. G. Ivens in the Solomon Islands. 
As both differ somewhat from the descriptions of the respective 
species, opportunity is taken to point out their individual 
peculiarities. The third note deals with an Australian species 
whose habitat has been the subject of some uncertainty. 
I. — Denisonia melanura, Boul. 
Hoplocephalus melanurus , Proc. Zool. 1888, p. 88, and 1890, p. 30, 
pi. ii., fig. 1. 
Denisonia melanura, Brit. Mus. Cat. Snakes (2nd ed.) iii., 1896, 
p. 345. V 1 ’ * 
The most noticeable difference between our specimen of Deni' 
sonia melanura and those previously described, is to be found in 
the circumstance that it possesses six upper labials instead of 
seven. The lost plate occurs between the fifth and the ultimate 
labials, but fails to reach the mouth, as shown in the accompanying 
figure. This is perhaps an individual peculiarity and worthy of notice 
only as such. The frontal, however, is considerably longer than in 
the British Museum specimens, being as long as the prefrontals 
and internasals combined, and two-thirds the length of the parietals. 
I he tail is not black as described, but similar in color to the body, 
likewise crossed by dark bands. 
Having but a single example, I hesitate to create anew species. 
Pending further material, it may for the present be known as : — 
Denisonia melanura , var. boulengeri. 
The scale formula is as follows: Scales in 15 rows, ventrals 170 ; 
anal divided ; sub-caudals 43. Total length 850 mm.; tail 125 mm. 
