382 COLUBRIDjE. 



473. Hipistes hydrinus. 



Homalopsis hydrina, Cantor, J. A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 951, pi. xl, 



fig. 4. 



Bitia hydroides and Hipistes fasciatus, Gray, Cat. Sn. pp. 63, 78. 

 Hipistes hydrinus, Gitnth. Rcpt. B. I. p. 287, pi. xxiv, fig. II ; Sto- 



liczTta, J. A. 8. B. xxxix, 1870, pt. 2, p. 207 ; Anders. P. Z. S. 1871, 



p. 181 ; Theob. Cat. p. 184. 



Bostral as deep as broad ; frontal narrow, twice as long as broad, 

 as long as its distance from the end of the snont or a little longer ; 

 eye between four shields, viz. a supraocular, a prseocular, a sub- 

 ocular, and a small postocular ; 7 upper labials ; 5 lower labials in 

 contact with the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields ex- 

 tremely small. Scales in 35 to 42 rows. Ventrals 153-1 65; anal 

 divided ; subcaudals 22-35. Pale grey or brownish above, with 

 black cross bands as broad as the interspaces between them or 

 narrower ; lower parts white. 



Total length 19 inches ; tail 2. 



Hub. This is the most Hydrophid-like of the Homalopsids. Of 

 the three specimens observed by Cantor, two were captured in 

 fishing-stakes placed in the sea off the shores of Keddah, the third 

 was washed on shore by the waves on the coast of Pinang. Stoliczka 

 found it very common at the mouth of the Moulmein Elver; and, 

 according to Theobald, it is largely captured in company with 

 great numbers of Hydrophids in the sluice-nets (or creels) in the 

 Bassein Eiver below Gnaputau. It lives almost entirely upon fish. 



Series C. PROTEROGL YPH A. 



Anterior maxillary teeth grooved. Poisonous. 



Subfamily V. ELAPIN^E. 



Terrestrial or arboreal. Tail cylindrical. 



These snakes inhabit Asia, Africa, and America, and form the 

 bulk of the Ophidian fauna of Australia. 



Synopsis of Indian, Ceylonese, and Burmese Genera. 



A. No solid maxillary teeth ; scales equal. 



. Poison-gland not extending along the 



"body CALLOPHIS, p. 383. 



b. Poison-gland extending along each side 



of the anterior third of the body ADENIOPHIS, p. 386. 



B. Poison-fang followed by one or more solid 



teeth. 



a. Neck not dilatable ; vertebral scales en- 



larged BUNGARUS, p, 387. 



b. Neck dilatable ; vertebral scales not en- 



larged NAIA, p. 390. 



