90 AFSTEALIAN SNAKES. 



Fischers' Sea Snake. Platiirus Jischeri. 



Platurus fischeri. Jan., Iconogr. Deseript. in Rev. et Mag. Zool., 1859. Oilnther, Rept. of 

 Brit. India, p. 356. 



Scales ill 19 rows. 



Ventrals, 232 to 241. 



Total length, 30 inches. 



No azygos shield between the posterior frontals ; scales of the front 

 part of the trunk in nineteen longitudinal series ; ventral shields 232-241. 

 Trunk surrounded by from thirty-three to thirty-six black rings, which are 

 broader than the interspaces. A black band crosses the occiput, and 

 extends forward over the vertical plate, and over the left jaw, but generally, 

 it is not confluent with the next following ring. Upper part of the snout 

 yellow, upper labials black. 



Habitat, Australian Seas, near New Guinea, the New Hebrides, &c. 



-A-IPTTSTJETIS, Lace'p. 



Body not much compressed, with trenchant belly, of moderate 

 length. Shields of the head generally divided into more or less numerous 

 smaller pieces ; normally only one pair of frontals ; nostrils superior, each 

 in a single nasal, the nasals being contiguous to each other. Scales of 

 moderate size, imbricate, smooth or slightly tubercular ; ventral shields 

 well developed, with a longitudinal median ridge. Subcaudals broad, 

 entire. 



The species of this genus appear rather to belong to the fauna of 

 Polynesia and Australia than to that of British India ; no instance of a 

 specimen captured in the seas of the latter countries being on record. 

 {Giinther.) 



Eel-like Sea Snake. Aipysurus anguilUformls. 



Thalassopis anguilliformia, Schmidt, Abhandl. Natitrw. Hamh. II, p. 76, taf. 1. 

 Aipysurus anguilliformis, QUnther, Rept. of Brit. India, p. 357. 



Scales in 17 rows. 

 Abdominal, 142. 

 Total length, 24 inches. 



