HYPSIEHINA. 375 



Cerberus cinereus, Cantor, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 54. 

 Hoinalopsis australis, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 65. 

 Homalopsis rhynchops, Cantor, J. A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 941. 

 Cerberus acutus, unicolor, and australis, Gray, Cat. Sn. p. 65. 

 Cerberus boaeformis, Dinn. fy Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 978. 

 Cerberus rhynchops, Gil-nth. Sept. B. I. p. 279 ; Anders. P. Z. S. 

 1871, p. 179 ; Theob. Cat. p. 185 ; Murray, Zool. Sind, p. 381. 



Bostral nearly as deep as broad ; eye between five or six shields, 

 viz. a supraocular, a prteocular, two or three suboculars, and a 

 postocular ; 9 or 10 upper labials, posterior transversely divided ; 

 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields ; posterior 

 chin-shields smaller and wedged in between the anterior and the 

 labials. Scales strongly keeled, in 21 to 25 rows. Ventrals 

 132-156 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 49-72. Grey, olive, or blackish 

 above, with more or less distinct black cross bars ; sometimes a 

 more or less distinct white lateral baud ; lower parts whitish, with 

 large black blotches or cross bars. 



Total length 3 feet 3 inches ; tail 7 inches. 



Hob. India, extending west to the Indus, and Ceylon, Burma, 

 Indo-China, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, New Guinea, north 

 coast of Australia. This snake lives in the mud on the banks of 

 large rivers and estuaries, and on the sea-coast, having the power of 

 accommodating itself to fresh and salt water. It feeds on fish, and 

 is very gentle. 



Genus HYPSIRHINA, 



Wagler, Syst. Auiph. p. 169, 1830. 



Fig. 110. Head of Hypsirhina plumbea. 



Maxillary teeth 10 to 15, followed by two grooved fangs. Head 

 not or but slightly distinct from neck ; eye small, with vertically 



