Python.  Native name WAKEL or wa-A-KEL.  This snake is considered by the natives a great delicacy, and by their account resembles mutton in flavour, being also remarkably fat.  I requested them to let me taste the specimen from which the drawing was made; but they devoured every atom themselves, pretending they did not understand me.  The WAKEL differs from the Norn in its habits; although both ascend trees in pursuit of small birds and the young of the opossums.  The WAKEL delights in rocky, dry places, near salt water; they are very sluggish, and easily caught by the women, who seize them behind the head and wring their necks.  They are described to have been seen 9 or 10 feet long.  My specimen, a young male, was exactly 5 feet long.  The scales of this species are firmly fixed to the skin, in plates all over the back and belly.  The colour is beautiful, dark greenish brown, finely variegated with yellowish white spots.

It was killed by Paddy, a native constable, near Albany, October, 1841.

* * * * *

Fishes.

     GOBIIDAE.

No. 58.—­PATOECUS FRONTO.  Rich.  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  Oct. 1844, vol. xiv.p. 280, Ichth.  Ereb. and Terr. p. 20, pl. 13, f. 1, 2.

Native name KARRACK.  Colour, a rich dragon’s blood, or mahogany; found by a Danish boatman, named Byornsan, 80 miles off the east coast from King George’s Sound, December 11th, 1841.  Anal rays imperfectly counted, and there is a typographical error in the Zool. of Ereb. and Terr.  The true numbers of the rays follow:  B. 6; D. 24-16; A. 11-5; C. 10; P. 8.

     TRIGLIDAE.

No. 53.—­SCORPOENA, or SEBASTES.—­Native name, TYLYUCK, or TELUCK (big-head).  “Rays, D. 12, 1-8; A. 3-5; P. 21; V. 1-5.”

Uncommon.  Inhabits rocky shores.  Flesh firm and well-flavoured.  Caught by hook, 16th Aug. 1841.

No. 34.—­SEBASTES?—­Native name, CUMBEUK.

A common inhabitant of rocky shores.  Good eating.  The specimen was speared by Munglewert, 17th May, 1841.  “Rays, D. 14-17; A. 3-8; P. 14; V. 1-5.”

No. 14.—­APISTES.  Apparently scaleless, and without free pectoral rays.  Does not correspond well with A. MARMORATUS.  “Rays, D. 12,” etc.  Caught by Seine, 18th March, 1841.

The fishermen dread wounds made by the species of this fish, as they always fester.

Native name BOORA-pokey, or poky.  Sergeant of the settlers.

No. 36.—­PLATYCEPHALUS.—­Native name CUMBEL.  Common Flat-head of the settlers.  Seems to differ from described species in the two dark bars of the tail, being directly transverse, and followed by five large dark purple round spots.

Inhabits sandy shores very commonly, all round the coast of New Holland.  A variety occurs at Maria Island, Van Diemen’s Land.  Caught by hook, 15th May, 1841.  Good eating.

     MULLIDAE.

No. 13.—­UPENEUS.—­Native name, MINAME, or KGNARNUCK (the bearded); “Red mullet” of the settlers.