7.  Disteira doliata.  Lacepede, Ann. de Museum, D’Hist.  Nat. 4 199. 210.  Enhydris doliatus, Merrem, Syst.  Amph. 140.  Icon.  Lacep.  Ann.  Mus. 4 t. 57. f. 2.

The series of small hexagonal shields on the abdomen of this curious animal appears to be formed of two series of scales united laterally.  The length of the specimen brought home by Captain King exceeds four feet.  The figure by M. Lacepede seems to be too short, but his description agrees admirably with our specimen, which has been presented to the British Museum.

8.  Leptophis* punctulatus (n.s.).  N. squamis laevibus apice uni-indentatis, spinae dorsalis triangularibus; cauda quadrantali, tenui, squamis aequalibus.

(Footnote.  I have adopted Mr. Bell’s manuscript name for this genus since his paper was read at the Zoological club of the Linnean Society, before the publication of my genera of Reptiles in the Annals of Philosophy, where I erroneously considered it as synonymous with Dr. Leach’s genus Macrosoma instead of my Ahaetulla.  J.E.G.)

Scales uniform, pale brown, with a minute black dot impressed on the apex:  body slender, compressed:  abdominal scutae rather broad.  The series of scales on the side next to the ventral plates ovate and blunt; those on the sides narrow, linear, in five series; the series of scales along the centre of the back long, triangular.  This arrangement of the scales gradually assumes a uniform appearance on the neck close to the head, where they are ovate.  Head rather long with nine plates, frontal plate being divided; the snout very blunt, truncated; the upper central labial scale octangular, with a deep concavity on the labial margin; the anterior and posterior mental scales long.  The tail one-fourth the length of the body, covered with uniform ovate quadrangular scales.  Length, four feet.

This species appears to have a considerable affinity to the genus named Macrosoma by Dr. Leach, but not described by him, and is very much like Coluber decorus of Shaw.  It belongs to the group called by English Zoologists, Whip Snakes.

The specimen above described was taken by Mr. James Hunter, at Careening Bay, on the north coast, and presented by him to the British Museum.

9.  Leptophis spilotus.  Coluber spilotus, Lacepede, Ann.  Mus. iv 209.

A specimen of this snake was brought home by Captain King, agreeing very well with the short description given by Lacepede, in his account of some new species of animals from New Holland.  It has not been taken notice of in the modern works on Reptiles.  It may, perhaps, be distinct from it; but upon considering that upwards of two hundred species of this genus have been already described, I thought it best not to increase the number without very good reason.  This species forms a second section in the genus Leptophis, on account of the form of its scales, particularly those of the throat.

Captain King has informed me that turtles of two or three kinds are common on the coasts of Australia, particularly within the tropic; and Alligators were seen, in great abundance, in the rivers of the northern and north-western coasts, particularly in those that empty themselves into the bottom of Van Diemen’s Gulf; but as no specimens of either of these animals were preserved, no further notice can be taken of them.*