AUSTEALIAN SNAKES. 83 



them are also light colored, and below these is another whitish spot, formed 

 by the inner portions of eight scales with a darker centre. The occipitals 

 are slightly raised above the eye, and resemble, in this respect, the scales 

 in the genus AcantJwphis. The frontals shelve downwards, and the 

 rostral is so low, as not to be visible from above if the head be put in 

 a horizontal position. Body and tail above lead colored, beneath whitish ; 

 the abdominals have brown spots in the corner of each plate, which become 

 faint towards the tail. 



Mr. Thomas Nobbs, a liberal donor to the Museum, discovered this 

 new snake near Rockhampton, in Queensland. 



FAMILY OF SEA SNAKES-^ ri)i20Pj?/D.^.* 



Body subcylindrical anteriorly, more or less compressed posteriorly ; 

 taU. strongly compressed, elevated, paddle-shaped. Head shields generally 

 abnormal ; loreal, none. Nostrils situated on the upper side of the head, 

 except in Platurus. Eye small, with round pupil. The venom fang small, 

 grooved in front, and with a canal in its interior terminating in a short 

 sUt. 



" The Sea Snakes are inhabitants of the tropical parts of the Indian 

 and Pacific Oceans, extending from the coast of Madagascar to the Isthmus 

 of Panama ; they are most numerous in the East Indian Archipelago, and 

 in the seas between Southern China and North Australia, being represented 

 on the outskirts of the geographical range we have mentioned by only one 

 species, and that the most common, viz., JPelamis bicolor. They pass 

 their whole life in the water (with the exception perhaps of the Platurus), 

 and soon die when brought on shore. 



" The most striking feature in the organization of the Sea Snakes is 

 their elevated and compressed tail, the processes of the caudal vertebrae 

 being much prolonged and styliform. The hind part of the body, and 

 sometimes forwards to beyond the middle of its length, is also compressed, 

 and the belly forms a more or less sharp ridge. The ventral shields would 



* The remarks on the Sea Snakes are by Dr. A. Giinlhcr, F.R.S., originally jiublislu'd in Uic Hepii/ps of 

 British IiuJia. 



