HORN EXPEDITION-REPTILIA. 
147 
Distribution. —All Australia, except southern portion of Victoria and South 
Australia. 
Aspidites, Peters. 
(3) Aspidites nielanocephaliis., Kreft’t. 
Unfortunately the head only of this specimen was collected. The head-shields 
and number of scales round the neck agree with the type, but the colour is uniform 
pale brown. 
Locality. —Alice Springs. 
Distribution. —-Townsville, N.Q., Port Denison. 
‘ Elapid^. 
In dealing with the species of this family we have met with considerable 
difficulty, owing to the unsatisfactory state of the literature. Since the publica¬ 
tion by Dr. Gunther in 1858 of the Catalogue of the Snakes in the Briti.sh 
Museum, little alteration has been made in the nomenclature of the Australian 
Elapidte, although about eighty species have been added to the list since that date. 
Our work upon the few genera dealt with here has shown us that a revision of the 
genera, in this family, has become absolutely necessary. Many of the characters 
relied on to establish the genera are variable, and in some instances— e.g.., “ two 
nasals, nostril between,” in Diemenia, Pseudonaja, and Pseudechis —not even of 
specific value. 
It would not be convenient to deal fully with this subject here, and as Dr. 
Boulenger is now engaged in preparing a Catalogue of the Venomous Colubrine 
Snakes, we prefer to await the result of his investigations. 
In the following list we have adopted the nomenclature as it at present 
stands, adding a few remarks under the different species as suggested. 
Diemenia, Gray. 
(1) Diemenia reticulata., Gray. 
Two young specimens. Typical in structure and colouration. 
Locality. —Alice Springs, Charlotte Waters. 
Distribution. —From North Victoria to North Queensland. 
u2 
