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Show 1868.] MR. GERARD KREFFT ON AUSTRALIAN ZOOLOGY. 3 It is a true western species ; and the specific name of longicollis would be much better adapted to it: the Tortoise known so well as C. longicollis can shelter its head under the shell; whereas C. oblonga cannot do this, and there is scarcely a margin left to protect the head or neck. W e are told by the same authority that " the Batrachia of Victoria, with the exception of the C o m m o n Green Frog (Ranhyla ?, M e C o y ; Hyla aurea, White), are rarely seen or heard, that the true Hylee inhabit lofty gum-trees, and that the Swamp-Frogs of the genus Limnodynastes burrow into the sand during the day." I need only refer to Dr. Giinther's paper on the " Geographical Distribution of the Batrachians," to bear witness to the fact that this country is overrun with frogs, that they produce a deafening noise, which is frequently mistaken by those newly arrived for the song of birds and chirping of insects, and that after dark, when the dew is on the grass or after a shower of rain, the ground (even close to a city) is covered with many species of these animals. Most LLylce retire under the bark of trees during the day, and come forth only after dark, when they make themselves sufficiently heard, and can easily be seen, by the light of a candle, hopping about in all directions. Hyla aurea has not the habit of Rana, as is stated by the same authority. No true Rana is found basking in the noonday sun miles away from water ; but I have frequently observed H. aurea in such positions. As to Frogs burrowing into the sand during the day, this is simply against their nature. As I a m now speaking about reptiles, I wish to put myself right with m y friend Dr. Gunther, who gives the habitat of Pseudechis australis as "North-eastern Australia." In August 1857 I caught on the Murray a re^-brown Snake with bright-yellow belly, which had the scales in 17 rows, anal bifid, ventrals 199, subcaudals 34 : ||. Six years afterwards I received from Port Denison a similar specimen differing only in the subcaudals, which always vary in this genus (being 31 : ^ ) . Another point to be corrected is, that I have referred the common Diemennia met with in the vicinity of Sydney to D. psammophis. I have used this name because it was this southern and ^western species which Schlegel first described and figured as Elaps psammophis. The head (see Schlegel's Abbildungen, t. 46. f. 14) is decidedly that of the common Diemennia found in N e w South Wales, the snake to which Dr. Giinther and Dr. Gray apply Schlegel's designation being found in Queensland only. I a m quite willing to adopt the name of D. reticulata for the southern species, if it is desirable to do so, though Schlegel's name of D. psammophis was applied first to the reptile which has generally gone under the name of D. reticulata. Before concluding, I wish to make a few remarks with regard to the Myrmecobius fasciatus, of which I have twice had an opportunity of examining females. This animal is supposed to have as many as eight nipples; and one observer, and a good one, states that he has actually seen seven young on the nipples. N o w in both speci- |