PREFACE. 
The present descriptive Catalogue contains a full account of nearly all the Australian Snakes 
discovered and recorded up to the year 1868, including the Sea Snakes observed on our coast. 
Original descriptions have been retained wherever it was possible, errors have been corrected, 
and the ranges of the various species defined. Much attention has been paid to the colors 
of living specimens, and to the changes ophidian reptiles undergo during the period of growth. 
Frequent experiments have enabled me to distinguish between venomous and dangerous 
venomous snakes; and it must be a source of congratulation that, with the many new 
discoveries in this branch of Natural History during the last ten years, not one really dangerous 
serpent has been added to our fauna. 
In 1851, about twenty Australian Snakes were known; five years later, thirty were 
enumerated in Dr. Gunther’s Catalogue; and now, nearly seventy species are on record. 
Science owes much to the energy of the Trustees of the Australian Museum, who, with very 
limited means, have kept a most able and enthusiastic collector (Mr. George Masters) in the 
field; and I do not think I am far wrong in stating that two-thirds of these newly 
discovered species were first exhibited in Sydney. 
I am under deep obligations to Dr. Albert Gunther, F.E.S., of the British Museum, 
whose splendid work on “ The Beptiles of British India ” has enabled me to add a full 
account of the Australian Sea Snakes. The gifted daughters of A. W. Scott, Esq., M.A.— 
Miss Scott, and Mrs. Edward Eorde—have done everything in their power to give correct 
figures of the reptiles illustrated. This task (one of peculiar difficulty, as every naturalist 
knows) has been well carried out, and the different species will be easily recognized. 
I thank all the kind contributors to the Museum—in particular, the Messrs. MTntosh, of 
Lane Cove and Marsh Bank; Mr. Houghton Bradley, Mr. Arch. Boyd, Mr. Edward S. Hill, 
Mr. Edward Beiisario, and others, who, during a period of nine years, have enriched our 
collection with numerous specimens, and through whose exertions the dangerous snakes of the 
neighbourhood of Sydney have been considerably reduced. 
I shall feel thankful if occasional mistakes are pointed out to me; and if sufficient 
encouragement is offered, I hope to continue publications of a similar character. 
$ 
Hyde Park, 
Woolloomooloo , March 20, 1869. 
G. K. 
