AUSTRALIAN - SNAKES. 
35 
The germs Liasis is distributed over some of the islands of the 
Arafura Sea, as Timor, and the Aru Group; a species also inhabits New 
Ireland (Liasis amethystinmj , which is figured at Plate V, figs. 5 and 
5a, so as to give some idea of the character of this reptile, there being 
no Australian species in the Museum collection.* 
Olive-green Rock Snake. Liasis olivacea. 
Liasis olivacea, Gray, Cat. of Snakes in Col. B. M., p. 92. 
A second Rock Snake of the genus Liasis occurs near Port Essington, 
and on Sir Charles Hardy’s Island, of which Dr. Gray gives the following 
brief description:— 
" One preocular and three postocular shields; rostral not pitted; 
the first pair of upper labials with a small pit on the outer upper edge; 
the four or five hinder pair of the lower, preceding the three last, pitted. 
Pale olive-green (in spirits); upper lip and beneath pale yellowish; 
occiput scaly, with one pair of larger shields.” 
Gray. 
Head scaly; muzzle regularly shielded to between the eyes; nostrils 
lateral, in a single plate; eyes lateral; pupil elliptical, erect; upper 
labial shields flat; hinder lower labials pitted; scales smooth; suhcaudal 
plates two-rowed. 
Gilbert’s Rock Snake. Nardoa gilbertii. 
(Plate Y, figs. 3, 3a.) 
Nardoa gilbertii, Gray, Cat. of Spec, of Snakes in Col. B. M.,p. 93. 
Scales, 52 rows. 
Abdominal plates, 330. 
One anal plate. 
Subcaudals, 51B- 
Total length, 42 inches. 
Head, 1|- inch. 
Tail, 4 inches. 
* The Trustees are since indebted to Capt. M'Gregor, of the yacht “ Chance,” for a splendid collection of 
New Ireland Reptiles, among which is a large Liasis ametliystinus . 
