378 OPHIDIA. 



Hydeophis pachyceecus. 



Hydrophis pachycercus, Fischer, Abhandl. Geb. Naturwiss. Hamb. iii. p. 44. taf. 2. 



Head and body of moderate width and length. Two pairs of chin-shields, both of which 

 are in contact with each other. Two postoculars. The third upper labial is not in contact 

 with the nasal, but enters the orbit ; the fourth and fifth labials are below the orbit. The first 

 upper temporal is longer than high. Twenty-eight series of scales round the neck. Ventral 

 shields more than twice as broad as the scales of the adjoining series, 258 in number. Four 

 praeanal shields, the outer being larger than the imier. Scales with a strong tubercular 

 keel ; ventral shields with one or two pairs of tubercles. Body brownish yellow above, with 

 very indistinct cross bands ; sides and belly white. Tail black behind. 



The single example I have seen is from the East Indian Aixhipelago ; it is 36 inches long, 

 the tail measuring 9 inches. 



Hydeophis vipeeina. 



Thalassophis viperina, Schmidt, Abhandl. Naturw. Hamb. ii. p. 79. taf. 3. 

 Disteira prsescutata, Dum. £f Bibr. Erpet. gen. vii. p. 1351. 

 Hydrophis doliata, Fischer, Abhandl, Naturw. Hamb. iii. p. 56. 



Head of moderate size and width ; neck and body moderately elongate. Nasal shields as 

 broad posteriorly as they are long ; the third upper labial does not enter the orbit ; two pos- 

 terior oculars ; three temporal shields on the side of each occipital ; two large chin-shields, 

 in contact with one another. Twenty-nine series of scales round the neck. Ventral shields 

 237 in number: the anterior are broad, about six times as broad as the scales of the adjoining 

 series ; they decrease in width towards behind, and the posterior are not much larger than 

 the neighbouring scales. Four praeanal shields of moderate size. Scales smooth in the young, 

 and keeled in the adult. Back with from thirty-one to thirty-eight rhombic black spots, 

 the anterior of which are sometimes confluent ; they are continued on to the belly as blackish 

 vertical bars in young specimens, but these bars disappear with age ; head without markings. 



Only one young example has been examined by myself; it is from the coast of Madras. 

 The specimen in the Hamburg Museum is said to be from Java. 



Hydeophis ocellata. (Plate XXV. figs. P, P'.) 



Hydropliis ocellata, Gray, Viper. Snakes, p. 53. 



Head rather short and broad ; anterior and posterior parts of the body moderately stout ; 

 two pairs of chin-shields, the anterior of which are in contact with each other. Two post- 

 oculars ; thirty-five to forty-one series of scales round the neck. Ventral shields distinct, 

 but not twice as broad as the scales of the adjoining series, 296-334 in number. Six praeanal 

 shields, the outer of which are the largest. Scales of the young smooth, of the adult with a 

 short tubercular keel. Back with from thirty-two to thirty-four blackish cross bands, the 



