Austral English / A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia

by Edward Ellis Morris

<i>Brown Snake</i>.

Name given to three species of the genus <i>Diemenia</i>— (1) the Common Brown Snake, <i>D. superciliosa</i>, Fischer; (2) the small-scaled Brown Snake, <i>D. microlepidota</i>, McCoy; and (3) the shield-fronted Brown Snake, <i>D. aspidorhyncha</i>, McCoy. All are venomous, and the commonest is the first, which is usually known as the Brown Snake.

1890. A. H. S. Lucas, `Handbook of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science,' Melbourne, p. 71:

"The most abundant of these are the tiger snake, <i>Hoplocephalus curtus</i>, the most widespread, active, and dangerous of them all: the brown snake, <i>Diemenia superciliosa</i>, pretty generally distributed."

<i>Carpet Snake</i>.

Name applied in Australia to <i>Python variegata</i>, Gray, a non-venomous snake reaching a length of ten feet. The name has reference to the carpet-like pattern on the scales. The animal crushes its prey to death, and can hang from branches by means of its prehensile tail. In Tasmania, the name is unfortunately applied to a venomous snake, <i>Hoplocephalus curtus</i>, Schlegel.

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' c. i. p. 16:

"Brown brought a carpet snake and a brown snake with yellow belly."

1878. F. McCoy, `Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria,' Decade ii. pl. 13:

"The pattern has some resemblance to some of the commoner sorts of Kidderminster carpets, as suggested by the popular name of Carpet Snake . . . the name . . . is, unfortunately, applied to the poisonous Tiger Snake in Tasmania, producing some confusion."