28 AUSTRALIAN ZOOLOGY, 
have almost every scale of the body marked with a yellow spot in 
the centre, and often a somewhat indistinct, and frequently inter- 
rupted, yellow streak on each side, The abdominal plates are 
yellow, more or less blotched with black, and many species occur 
which have a number of diamond-shaped yellow spots upon the body 
formed by a few of the lighter scales, and hence their name has 
probably arisen. The head is covered with a number of irregular 
small scales, which are also more or less marked with yellow, and 
the last seven scales of the lower jaw forming the line of the mouth 
are deeply pitted. By these grooved or hollowed scales the harmless 
character of the reptile may be at once ascertained, as none of the 
Australian venomous species have scales so marked. The line of — 
the mouth—the gape—is straight as in venomous subjects, but the — 
deep indentations which mark the last lower labial scales, the small | 
irregular head shields, the numerous body scales, the prehensile — 
tail, and the spurs near the anus can leave no doubt on the minds of 
persons who know these facts as to what kind of reptile they have 
to deal with should they be bitten by a diamond snake. A diamond 
snake, measuring eight feet six inches, having the yellow spots very 
large and with numerous regular cross bands, was sent to the 
museum from Brisbane Water. One captured near Sydney 
measured 10} feet. Individuals of 11 feet or more are very rare. 
Habits.—Though a harmless creature so far as poisonous effects 
are concerned, when it is irritated its bite is severe, and, though 
strictly nocturnal, individuals are sometimes met with during the 
daytime, either basking in the sun and digesting their food or in 
search of a place of shelter when they have been disturbed. They 
prefer open stony ridges studded with low trees, and well supplied 
with water, but frequent the edges of swamps and lagoons where 
they find a good supply of water-rats, beside young ducks and 
other water-fowl. They also visit the henroosts of the farmer or 
surprise the smaller mammals upon the branches of trees. In 
January or December the female deposits thirty eggs or more, which 
she incubates. Dr, Bennett permitted a diamond snake about eight 
feet long to entwine round his arm. He found its pressure, (which 
it seemed to exercise merely by the muscular power necessary to 
retain its position), was sufficiently energetic to make his arm ache 
for some hours afterwards. 
Food.—Like the other members of the family Pythonida, 
diamond snakes prey upon birds and the smaller mammals; young 
individuals feed upon insects, frogs, or birds’ eggs. In a state of 
nature they never touch any food except living animals. In 
captivity a diamond snake, which was kept in a cage, swallowed a 
rat which had been killed by a tigersnake. A telegram from Mount 
Victoria to the Herald, dated 21st February, 1895, says, ‘‘ From 
the abundance of hares, kangarov rats, &c., in the adjacent Kanimbla 
Valley, diamond snakes of a phenomenal size are occasionally met 
with there ; one measuring a few inches under 11 feet was killed.” 
Where found.—The range of this reptile is restricted to a very 
limited area of country within a radius fof 209 or 300 miles from 

