Volume 1

Natural history of Victoria : prodromus of the zoology of Victoria; or figures and descriptions of the living species of all classes of the Victorian indigenous animals / by Frederick McCoy.

  • Frederick McCoy
Date:
[1885-90]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Natural history of Victoria : prodromus of the zoology of Victoria; or figures and descriptions of the living species of all classes of the Victorian indigenous animals / by Frederick McCoy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    genus from the allied forms. There are only two species known, the present black and red one, and a brown one, the specific distinction of which is doubted by some observers. Some fatal cases of snake-bite in man from this species are known, and a large-sized dog will usually die in an hour from the effects of its bite. When irritated it can flatten and widen the neck by raising some of the anterior ribs. To show the variations in the numbers of the scales, &c., the following examples from specimens in the National Museum are given, indicating the extreme variations, from 7 to 16, particularly of the single row of subcaudal plates, and the constancy of the rows of scales across the middle of the back. — Entire Length. Tail. Gape. Subcaudal Plates. Abdomi- nal. Bows of Scales across— Neck. Middle. Tail.°£ 1.' Large specimen ft. in. in. in. figured 4 9J 6f HI 182 21 17 17 2. 4 9* 8 *ft 16i 185 21 17 17 3. Small specimen 1 0 2 ft 14|{ 182 21 17 17 4. 2 If 3 71 185 2! 17 17 The Black Snake may be said to be rare in Victoria, except near the northern boundary. The chief food of this species is formed of frogs, lizards, mice, and other small mammals. It retires into holes in the ground during the winter months, from May, until the warmth of spring brings it forth again. The young are colored like the adult, and are usually about 16 or 18 in number. Explanation of Figubes. Plate 1.—Fig. 1, large specimen one-half natural size. Fig. la, under side of tail of same specimen to show the double anal plate, the anterior subcaudal plates in one row, and the posterior ones in two rows, two-thirds the natural size. Fig. 2, side view of head of another specimen, showing the rostral plate, nasal plates, anterior ocular plate, two posterior ocular plates, superciliary plate, and upper and lower labial plates, one-third larger than nature. Fig. 2a, front view of same specimen, showing the form of top of the head and rostral plate, one-third larger than nature. Fig. 2b, inner view of palate of same specimen, showing the two poison-fangs, with the three small solid teeth behind each, on each side, and the two long rows of small solid teeth pointing backwards on the palate, one-third larger than nature. Kg. 2c,, same specimen seen from above, showing the form and proportions of the rostral plate, anterior pair of frontal plates, posterior pair of frontal plates, two superciliary plates, pair of occipital plates, and the vertex plate, one-third larger than nature. Fig. 2d, same specimen seen from below, showing the chin plates, one-third larger than nature. [6] Frederick McCoy.