Melbourne, Government Printers, 1878. 4to (27.1 x 18.2 cm). Four chromolithographed plates with accompanying text leaves. Original printed wrappers.

One of the most richly illustrated faunal descriptions of Australia; especially interesting because of the many thoroughly observed and carefully described reptiles, amphibians, fishes, molluscs and insects. Many of these Australian animals are pictured and described for the first time. In total 20 decades were published, each with a mix of species from various phyla. This is the complete herpetology (and ophiology) of the second decade, which includes the snakes Hoplocephalus flagellum McCoy, H. coronoides (Günther), Acanthophis antarctica (Shaw) "the death adder", and Morella variegata (Gray), each description including much information on the Victoria populations and their variability. Also included is the preface to the second decade, with some additional herpetological information by McCoy. Wrapper a bit soiled, spine split, last pages and back wrapper detached, still a very good copy. Nissen ZBI, 2828.