found in almost every kind of country that
offers them sufficient shelter."

1895. G. Metcalfe, `Australian Zoology,' p. 27:

"As a rule, diamond snakes have almost every scale of the body
marked with a yellow spot in the centre. . . . The abdominal
plates are yellow, and more or less blotched with black, and
many species . . . have a number of diamond-shaped yellow
spots upon the body, formed by a few of the lighter scales,
and hence their name has probably arisen."

<i>Green Tree-Snake</i>.

Name given, owing to its colour, to the commonest Australian
tree-snake, <i>Dendrophis punctulata</i>, Gray. It is a
non-venomous form, feeding on frogs, young birds, and eggs,
and rarely exceeds the length of six feet.

1869. G. Krefft, `The Snakes of Australia,' p. 24:

"Young and half grown Tree Snakes are olive-green above and
light brown below . . . when angry, the body of this serpent
expands in a vertical direction, whilst all venomous snakes
flatten their necks horizontally. The green Tree snake, in a
state of excitement is strongly suggestive of one of the
popular toys of childhood."

<i>Little Whip-Snake</i>.

Name applied to a small venomous species of snake,
<i>Hoplocephalus flagellum</i>, McCoy. Common in
parts of Victoria, but not exceeding a foot in length.

1859. H. Kingsley, `Geoffrey Hamlyn,' vol. ii. c. xxvii.
p. 190:

"He wished it had been a whip-snake instead of a magpie."

1887. R. M. Praed, `Longleat of Kooralbyn,' c. xx. p. 199:

"A whip-snake . . . reared itself upon its lithe body, and
made a dart at Barrington's arm."

1890. Lyth, `Golden South,' c. iii. p. 24:

"I saw a large `whip-snake' lying on the path."

<i>Tiger-Snake</i>.

Name applied in Australia and Tasmania to <i>Hoplocephalus
curtus</i>, Schlegel, but this species is often also known in
the latter as the <i>Carpet Snake</i> (q.v.). The popular name
is derived from the cross-banded colouring along the body, and
also from its activity. It varies much in colour from a dark
olive green to a light yellowish brown, the darker cross bands
being sometimes almost indistinguishable. It may reach a
length of four feet, and is viviparous, producing about thirty
young ones in January or February.

1875. `The Spectator' (Melbourne), Aug. 21, p. 190, col. 1:

"On Tuesday a tiger-snake was seen opposite the door of the
Sandridge police court."

1885. F. McCoy, `Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria,' Decade
i. pl.