160 
MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 
for a strike. The neck region may be distinctly distended (flattened). In some 
districts these snakes are regarded as dangerous, and have been called “ Tigers.” 
The darker bands on the brown body, which are very noticeable in some specimens, 
probably suggested this misnomer. Because of its striking colouration, this Black- 
headed Rock Snake has been called The Tarpot ” in some western Queensland 
districts. 
Notwithstanding variation in certain of the head scales, Waite accepted 
Wacleay’s Aspidites ramsayi'* as a distinct species, but Loveridge prefers sub-species. 
A very robust specimen of A. ramsayi from Yeulba, received from Mr. J. P. 
Bennett, is 207 centimetres in length. This is the “ woma ” of Cooper’s Creek 
Aborigines. In comparison with our specimens of A. melanocephalus this snake has 
a more massive head. 
In the widely branched structure of the postorbital (postfrontal of Boulenger) 
at its junction Avith the ])arietal and frontal elements tlio skull of A. melanocephalus 
resembles Nardoana boa. 
COLUBRIDAE. 
BOIGA FUSCA (Gray). 
(Plate XIV, Fig. 2.) 
Opportunity is taken to give an illustration of a Queensland Museum specimen 
of the Brown Tree Snake in a characteristically bellicose attitude. 
This snake is fairly common in south-eastern Queensland, and is sometimes 
called the Night Tiger.” 
DEMANSIA TEXTILIS Dum & Bibr. 
The variation in colour in the common Brown Snake is illustrated by specimens 
sent from Mackay by Mr. P. H. Stevens (J. 5629 & 5678). These are very dark brown 
and were thought by some to be “ a hybrid between the Brown and Black Snakes.” 
These Brown Snakes are strikingly marked in life with bright red spots on the ventral 
surface, but these quickly fade in spirits. Another specimen sent by Mr. G. Y. 
Harding, from Nambour (J. 6054) is an olive form, the bright red belly spots being 
very prominent w'hen first received. 
VERMICELLA ANNULATA (Gray). 
As the result of Dr. L. D. Brongersma’s researches, as recorded in his “ Con- 
tributions to Indo-Australian Herpetology,” Leyden, 1934, p. 223, the genus Farina 
is necessarily replaced by Vermicdla Gunther, 1858. The species previously know n as 
^ Waite, E. R. Trans. & Proo. Roy. Soc. S. Aus., Vol. XLl, 1917, p. 436, and Roc. South 
Aus. Mus., Vol. Ill, 1925, p. 24, with illustrations. 
