AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 
73 
which joins this mark to the back. Upper and lower labials dotted with 
brown spots. Body rounded; bead rather flat, depressed; tail short, 
distinct from trunk, ending in a conical spine about a quarter of an 
inch long. Six upper labials, the third and fourth forming the lower 
edge of the orbit, the second labial not in contact with the posterior frontal; 
rostral broad, low, very obtuse superiorly; shields of the head regular, all 
more or less rounded posteriorly, and slightly imbricated, vertical twice as 
long as broad*; one anterior and two posterior oculars, one temporal in 
contact with both oculars, four or five scale-like temporals behind; eye 
very small, pupil elliptical, and erect. 
About nine years ago—in 1860—a single individual of this species 
was captured; since then, owing to the exertions of correspondents in the 
country, specimens from Ash Island, on the Hunter River, Port Macquarie, 
the Clarence River, and other localities, have been received, so that its 
geographical range has been ascertained for many hundred miles along 
the east coast. This snake is strictly nocturnal in its habits, sluggish, and 
of gentle disposition, never offers to bite when handled, and though 
venomous, it is so in a very slight degree only, as has been proved by 
experiments; its length seldom, if ever, exceeds thirty inches. Rocky and 
desolate places are frequented by it, and in such localities it is occasionally 
found under flat stones during the cold season. 
Mr. G-. Masters obtained this species last year at Wide Bay, in 
Queensland; hut the finest specimens in the collection are those presented 
to the Museum by A. W. Scott, Esq., M.A.; they were captured at Ash 
Island, some of them have bright red abdominal plates, hut the color 
has now faded in the spirit specimens. 
Cacophis, Gunther , Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., 3rd Series, vol. XII, p. 361. 
Body rather short, head small or of moderate size, not distinct from 
trunk; eye small, pupil elliptical; tail moderate, rather thick, ending in 
a blunt spine ; nostrils in a single nasal. 
* This is not a constant character. 
O 
