i g6] 
RECORDS OF IV. A. MUSEUM. 
Var. B. Body light or dark brownish above, variegated 
with black or dark brown. The scales may be 
edged with darker (edged with lighter according 
to McCoy in D. aspidorhyncha) , or there may be 
bands of darker colour or zig-zag lines of dark 
brown. These markings, if not confined to the 
posterior two-thirds of the body are most distinct 
in that region. One or two black nuchal bands 
are rarely present. Ventrals olive, greyish or 
yellowish, uniform or with round dark spots on 
those of the posterior moiety. Throat some- 
times peppered with grey. 
A melanotic form also occurs in this variety. 
(Vars. B. and E. of Lucas and Frost ; var. B. 
part only ? of Boulenger ; vars. IV and V of 
Werner). 
Total length of largest specimen (Krefft), 1600 mm., tail 
300 mm. 
Demansia nuchalis is an extremely variable species both in 
colouration and in structural characters. The youngest specimen I 
have seen is sixteen inches in length, in which the colouration is like 
that of some of the adult specimens. This suggests that the young 
of this species, unlike the young of D. textilis, and D. modesta, may 
not have distinct black bands round the body. I have examined 
two melanotic specimens which do not otherwise differ from the 
typical form, and, as this form is present in both varieties it would 
appear to be quite sporadic in its occurrence. 
Localities. — This species is known from the following locali- 
ties : — Swan River and Geraldton ; North-Western Australia ; 
Port Essington, Northern Territory (Boulenger, 1896); Edel 
Land, Baba Head and Rottnest Island, W.A. (Werner, 1909) ; 
Alice Springs and between Laurie’s Creek and Glen Edith, Central 
Australia (Lucas and Frost, 1896) ; Port Darwin, Northern Terri- 
tory (Macleay, 1878); Stannary Hills, Central Eastern Queensland 
(de Vis, 1911, as Pseudelaps bancrofti). In the Australian Museum 
are specimens from Perth, 80 miles south of Perth, and Beverley, 
W.A.; Hermidale, near Nyngan, Western N.S.W., and Yandem- 
bah, Riverina, N.S.W. 
