810 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI. 



and 1910, p. 180). These creatures are not parasites, frequently 

 clinging to inanimate objects. When attached to snakes they 

 furnish an example of commensalism. 



Length. — This is a small snake, specimens exceeding two feet 

 being unusual. The largest measurement I know is 2 feet, 3^ 

 inches. 



Lepidosis. — Rostral. — Broader than high. Nasals. — In contact 

 behind the rostral. There is usually no suture from the nostrils, 

 but when present it passes to the 2nd labial. Pnefron.tals. — Usually 

 touch the 2nd labial, but sometimes they are cut off by the 

 apposition of the prysocular and nasal. Frontal. — The parietal 

 sutures are equal to, or little longer than the supraocular. Supra- 

 oculars. — In length and breadth about three-quarters that of the 

 frontal. PrcBocular. — One, rarely two. Postoculars. — Two, or some- 

 times three. Temporals. — Two or three small scales hardly deserving 

 the name of temporals lie between the parietals and the 6th labia). 

 Labials. — 7 to 9 ; the first 3 usually entire, manj'^ of the succeeding 

 frequently divided ; the 4th, 5th, and 6th usualh^ touching the 

 eye. Infralahials . — 5, the 5th largest, and touching 3 or 4 scales 

 behind. Marginals. Absent. Sublinguals. — Small, but usually 

 descernible as such ; the fellows of both pairs separated by several 

 scales. Gostals. — Two headslengths behind the head 40 to 54, at 

 greatest girth 41 to 55 ; juxtaposed everywhere. Each scale has 

 a pair of small round tubercles in the middle, one behind the other, 

 which are very characteristic. (A similar feature is only seen m 

 two other seasnakes, viz., H. gracilis and H. cantoris.) These 

 tubercles are very pronounced in males, especially on the lowest 

 costal rows, and give the snake a rough rasp-like feel. At or about 

 midcosta the tubercles become single, and dorsally may be obsoles- 

 cent, especially in females and young. Ventrals. — 284 to 339 ; 

 small, not or hardly broader than the last costal row, but usually 

 recognisable as such, anc^ countable; bituberculate laterally as in 

 the lowest costal rows. 



Distribution. — Persian Gulf to Tenasserim and the Andamans. 

 Beyond Indian limits it has a very wide range extending to Japan, 

 Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Western Coast of 

 North America. 



Not uncommon on our shores. Ferguson speaking of Ceylon 

 remarks that it is common about Colombo, and at the pearl fisheries. 



Dentition. — Maxilla.- — The upper jaw bears from 8 to 10 teeth 

 behind the fangs. Palatine 6 to 7. Pterygoid. 23 to 27. 

 Mandibular 16 to 18. 



Plate. — Our figure shows a good illustration of Variety bicolor of 

 Schneider. 



{This series of Popular Articles is noio concluded.) 



