52 THE PEOCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY On a new species of Hoplocephalus, from Sutton Forest, By William Magleay, F.L.S. I am indebted to C S. Bransby, Esq., of Moss Yale, for a species of Hoplocephalus, lately captured by him somewhere in the Sutton Forest country. I find it to be quite distinct from any of the species hitherto known or described. I subjoin a somewhat detailed description of the snake, which I propose to name in honour of its discoverer. Hoplocephalus Bransbti. General form rather robust and cylindrical, the tail tapering to a very fine point. Head scarcely broader than the neck, rather flat and short, and rounded at the muzzle ; vertical shield twice as long as wide and six-sided, the two anterior facing the posterior frontals, and nearly in a straight line ; the two posterior converging to a rather rounded angle, and those abutting on the parietal shields parallel. The posterior frontals are large, five-sided, and separated from the second upper labial by the nasal and anterior oculars, the side abutting on the nasal being very short. The anterior frontals are short (one third the length of posterior), form a very straight suture with the posterior frontals, and are prolonged into an acute angle between them and the nasals. Nasal shield twice as long as high, with the nostril small and in the middle, and the angle formed by the rostral and anterior frontals very acute. Rostral shield low, not reaching the dorsal surface of the head. The anterior ocular shield pentagonal and emarginate in front ; both posterior oculars small, the inferior oue largest. The superciliary shields are nearly as broad as the vertical ; the occipitals are large and divergent behind. The fourth lower labial very large. All the head shields more or less covered with minute granules. The eyes are moderately large, pupils round. The scales of the back are in 15 rows before the middle of the body, and in 17 rows behind, and are all of elongate form with the apex a little rounded, except the two outer lateral rows which are broad and
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