AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. 91 



Scales on the highest part of the body in seventeen series, perfectly 

 smooth ; ventral shields, 142. TaU covered laterally with scales similar 

 to those of the trunk, and terminating in a large shield-like scale ; shields 

 of the head not, or but little, subdivided ; upper parts brownish, with 

 cross bands of yellow black-edged scales ; head uniformly blackish. An 

 older example (described by Schmidt) is yellowish, with numerous rhombic, 

 rather irregular, confluent brown spots on the back. 



Habitat, Coast of Java and Australian Seas ? 

 Brown Sea Sxake. Aipysiirus fiiscus. 



Aipysurus fuscus, Fischer, AbJiandl. Naturw., Hamb. Ill, p. 33. Gunther, Mept. of Brit. 

 India, p. 35S. 



Scales in 19 rows. 

 Abdominals, 157 to 166. 

 Total length, 39 inches. 



Scales on the highest part of the body in nineteen rows ; those of 

 the outer series and the ventral shields with small tubercles, which are 

 more distinct in old individuals than in young ones ; ventral shields, 157- 

 165-166 ; scales on the side of the tail larger than those on the body ; 

 shields of the head much subdivided in old examples ; either uniformly 

 brown, or each scale and ventral shield with a large brownish-black spot 

 near the hind margin. 



This species belongs to the fauna of the Australian seas. {Giiiither.) 



JuKfis's Sea Snake. Aipysurus Icevis. 



Aipysurus Icevis, Latep. Ann. Mus. IV, pp. 197, 210, pi. -56, fig. 3. Giimther, Iiej)t. of 

 Brit. India, p. 3.58. 



Scales in 21 rows. 



Abdominals, 151 to 154. 



Total length, 60 inches. 



Scales on the highest part of the body in twenty-one rows, perfectly 

 smooth ; ventral shields, 151-(152)-154 ; scales on the side of the tail 

 elevated, band-like ; terminal scale of the tail very large ; shields of the 

 head much sul)divided in old examples, which are uniform brown. 



Habitat, Coa.st of New Caledonia, New Guinea, &c. 



