6. Aspidites Peters 1876.
1. Aspidites melanocephalus (Krefft 1864).**
Boulenger, I. p. 91, III. p. 592. Boettger in Semon, Reise Australien V. 1894. p. 119. Waite, Trans. R. Soc. S. Austral. XLI. 1917 p. 435.
According to Waite, distinguished from the following species by the following characters: the portion of the rostral visible from above ⅛–¼ (in ramsayi ½) as long as its distance from the frontal; internasals as broad as long (longer than broad); posterior prefrontals in contact before the frontal at one point (in contact for some distance); parietals undivided into small scales (large, separated by small scales); one large loreal (2–3 loreals); 11–12 (14) supralabials, 6th broadly touching the eye (7th narrowly touching the eye); sublabials 14–16 (19). Scales 49–57; ventrals 321–338; anal 1; subcaudals 60–69. Length 2050 mm, tail 220 mm. — Northern Australia, Queensland.
**2. Aspidites ramsayi (Macleay 1882).
Boulenger, I. p. 92. Waite, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales Vol. IX. (Series 2nd) 1899 p. 715, Plate L, figs. 1–3 and Trans. R. Soc. S. Austral. XLI. 1917 p. 35.
Eye not separated from the upper labials by a subocular (as in the preceding species); scales 53–63, ventrals 293–299, anal 1–2, subcaudals 53. Length 1900 mm, tail 330 mm. — Port Bourke, N.S. Wales.
3. Aspidites collaris Longman 1913.
Herpetological Notes, Part I, Mem. Queensland Mus. Vol. II.
This species, the description of which was made accessible to me through the kindness of Dr. Uvarov in London, appears to stand intermediate between the two previously known species in pholidosis, but differs in pattern, in that not only is the dorsal surface marked by irregular crossbands anastomosing on the sides, but a broad nuchal band is also present, which like the underside of the head is pure white. Supraoculars, the adjacent postocular, two small parietals, as well as the rostral: glossy black; the space between them is again white, though not as distinctly as the labials, the underside of the head, and the occipital band. Length 620 mm, tail 58 mm. — Avondale Station, Cunnamulla, Queensland (coll. E. A. Bignell).
Morphologically, the three species may be provisionally distinguished as follows:
One loreal; scales 49–57; ventrals 321–338; subcaudals 60–69. 6th supralabial at eye; internasals as long as broad; posterior prefrontals in contact above; parietals divided into small scales … A. melanocephalus.
Two or three loreals; scales 53–64; ventrals 293–303; subcaudals 52–53. 7th supralabial at eye; internasals longer than broad; parietals still distinguishable.
The portion of the rostral visible from above ¼ as long as its distance from the frontal; posterior prefrontals separated by an unpaired scale; parietals broken up into small scales, among which however 2 larger ones are still distinguishable … A. collaris.
The portion of the rostral visible from above ½ as long as its distance from the frontal; posterior prefrontals in contact; parietals large, separated by small scales … A. ramsayi.**
It is not improbable that the morphological differences can be attributed to individual variation, and the striking pattern to juvenile age. In any case, all three species are very closely related and may perhaps have to be united someday.