AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 87 



Sea Snakes of large dimensions were more numerous than they are, thev 

 woukl, in spite of their enemies, arrive at that size in a shorter pei'iod than 

 that which we assume as necessary for their growth. Tlie greatest size, 

 however, to which some species attain, according to positive observation, 

 is about twelve feet, and therefore, far short of the statements as to the 

 length of the so-called ' Sea Serpents.' The largest example I have seen 

 measured only eight feet. 



" There is no other group of reptUes the species of which are so little 

 kno'WTi, and the synonymy of which is so confused, as that of the Sea 

 Serpents. All the preceding authors, with the exception of Gray, have 

 worked at them with the idea that the species were less numerous than 

 they in reality are ; thus confounding forms which had been previously 

 distinguished, though imperfectly characterized. Having had the great 

 advantage of examining and comparing, first a portion of Russell's typical 

 specimens captured in the same seas as those from which Russell received 

 his examples, and secondly, the types of Shaw and Gray, I find the 

 results of my examinations so much at variance with those of others, that 

 it is necessary to treat on all the species of this family, and not to confine 

 myself to those alone which are supposed to be found in the Indian Seas 

 Moreover, oiir present knowledge of the geographical distribution of most 

 of the species is extremely vague, and I have reason to believe that, as in 

 other families of snakes, so in the Sea Snakes nvmierous species are very 

 local, whilst others extend over an enormous area." {Giinther.) 



The above lucid remarks on the Sea Snakes, and Dr. Giinther's sub- 

 sequent descriptions of the known genera and species, have enabled the 

 author to classify all the Museum specimens, and to distinguish two ncAv 

 species, which differ so much from all other forms that it was considered 

 necessary to establish a new genus for them. These species are allied to 

 Aipysuriis, and will be arranged between that genus and Disteira. All 

 the known genera are therefore enumerated in the catalogue, though only 

 those species have been selected from Dr. Giinther's Work which are sup- 

 posed to inhabit the Australian seas. 



