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Show 1877.] FISHES FROM DUKE-OF-YORK ISLAND. 129 three large round black spots on the side of the neck ; the first above the ear-opening, the second immediately behind it, the third above the axil; a series of numerous smaller black irregular spot3 along the upper part of the sides. Sides finely mottled with black striae. Lower parts whitish ; throat of one specimen with three blackish longitudinal bands, the middle being much less distinct than the lateral. in. lin. Total length 8 0 Distance of the snout from the eye 3j „ ,, ear 9 „ „ axil 1 5 „ „ vent 3 11 Length of fore limb 1 0 „ third finger 2| ,, hind limb 1 6 ,> second toe 2 „ third toe 3 ,, fourth toe 5| „ fifth toe 3 LlELAPHIS MODESTUS. A Snake widely spread in the Austro-Malayan region, varying in some points which may generally be relied upon as constant characters, and showing affinities to several very distinct types, hence often misunderstood, and appearing in the literature under many denominations. It is distinguished by a depressed head, with rather broad snout, small eye, and subvertical pupil, appearing round when expanded. Normally two shields in front and behind the eye; but these shields are frequently confluent into one, sometimes on one side of the specimen only ; sometimes the lower praeocular coalesces with the loreal. Seven (very rarely eight) upper labials, the third and fourth entering the orbit. Arrangement of the temporals irregular and variable. Body elongate, slightly compressed, the ventral scutes showing more or less lateral keels, which disappear entirely in large females. Scales smooth, in seventeen rows. Ventral scutes varying between 180 and 212; anal entire; subcaudals double, exceptionally confluent into a single series. The maxillary series of teeth is formed by from ten to twelve teeth, the front teeth being the smallest; they increase in strength towards the middle of the bone, one or two before the penultimate being again smaller ; the penultimate is sometimes as long as, sometimes a little longer than, the middle, sometimes not separated by an interspace from the preceding, sometimes separated by a very small space only ; the last tooth generally, again, is small: it is not rarely altogether doubtful whether the dentition odbfau rtPTka Rhi tOesc opCile.csoco ulinZromeO revsOaenotLr im.s oel hntySo icuoiomlcsdedo- s vn b1etder8.e y7 sc co7unen,snii dfdNioenorrgm.e ,do I nXa db.tioh aevc ers acndutateerrski,,a tnbh oerl l oiswgy hntlc9i rsg aohntmteeerrt,ii amnte hs; e |