PJ.ATURUS. 395 



the general appearance. In fact, nothing but the shape of the 

 tail would prevent Platurus being placed close to Bwnganu and 

 Calloplds. Species of Platurus are not so absolutely aquatic as the 

 other Hydrophids, and there are several records of specimens found 

 at some distance from water. In a recent note on Snakes from 

 Sumatra, Dr. van Lidth de Jeude mentions that a specimen of 

 P. colubrinus was captured by Dr. Hagen in the forests of Serdang 

 at a distance from the sea of nearly a day's journey. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



A. No ventral keel. 



a. No azygous shield on snout ; scales in 



19 rows P. laticaudatus, p. 395. 



b. An azygous shield between prsef rentals ; 



scales in 21-25 rows P. colubrinus, p. 395. 



B. A keel along posterior half of belly .... P. schistorhynchus. 



P. schistorhynchus, Gtbr. (If. colubrinus, Schleg. Faun. Japon., 

 Eept. pi. x), is known from the Chinese Sea and the "Western 

 Pacific, but has not been recorded from the coasts of India or 

 Burma. 



487. Platurus laticaudatus. 



Coluber laticaudatus, Linn. Mus. Ad. Frid. pi. xvi, fig. 1 ; id. Syst. 



Nat. i, p. 383. 



Laticaudata scutata, Laur. Syn. Rept. p. 109. 

 Platurus fasciatus, part., Daud. Rept. vii, p. 226 ; Dum. # Bibr. Erp. 



Gen. vii, p. 1321. 

 Platurus fischeri, Jan, Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1859, p. 149 ; Giinth. Rept. 



B. I. p. 356, pi. xxv, fig. A ; Anders. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 189 ; Fayrer, 



Thanatoph. pi. xix ; Jan, Icon. Ophid. 40, pi. i, fig. 2. 

 Platurus affinis, Anders. 1. c. p. 190. 

 Platurus laticaudatus, Peters, MB. Ak. Berl. 1877, p. 417. 



No azygous shields on the snout ; one prae- and two postoculars > 

 7 or 8 upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye ; temporals 

 1+2. Scales in 19 rows. Ventrals not keeled, 220-240 ; sub- 

 caudals 25-45. Olive above, yellowish beneath, with black annuli 

 which are as broad as the interspaces between them or broader. 



Total length 3 feet 3 inches. 



Hob. From the Bay of Bengal and the Chinese Sea to Polynesia. 



488. Platurus colubrinus. 



Hydrus colubrinus, Schneid. Hist. Amph. i, p. 238. 



Platurus fasciatus. part., Daud. Rept. vii, p. 226, pi. Ixxxv, fig. 1 ; 



2)um. $ Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 1321. 

 Laticauda scutata, Cantor, J. A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 1046. 

 Platurus fasciatus, Jan, Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1859, p. 149, and Icon. 



Ophid. 40, pi. i/fig. 1. 



Platurus scutatus, Giinth. Rept. B* I. p. 356. 

 Platurus colubrinus, Peters, MB. Ak. Berl, 1877, p. 418. 



