376 OPHIDIA. 



in its anterior portion. Two pairs of chin-shields, both of which are in contact with each 

 other. The first upper temporal much longer than high. Two postoculars. Thirty series 

 of scales round the neck. Ventral shields twice as broad as the scales of the adjoining series, 

 271 in number. Six prseanal shields, the outer being much larger than the inner ones. 

 Scales keeled. Body with fifty-three broad blackish-olive cross bands, rounded and narrower 

 on the sides than on the back, not extending downwards to the middle of the sides, separated 

 from one another by interspaces, the width of which is one-third of that of the bands. Sides 

 and all the lower parts uniform whitish. Head uniform greenish olive above, supraciliary 

 edge whitish. Tail with eleven blackish vertical bars. 



The typical specimen, from the Indian Ocean, is the only example I have seen of this 

 species ; it is 31 inches long, the tail measuring 3^ inches, the cleft of the mouth f inch. 



Hydrophis stkicticollis. (Plate XXV. fig. R.) 



Head narrow, elongate, not quite twice as long as broad ; body slender, especially in its 

 anterior portion. Two pairs of chin-shields, both of which are in contact with each other. 

 Only one anterior temporal, which is as high as long. One postocular. Thirty-four series of 

 scales round the neck. Ventral shields distinct, but only the anterior are twice as broad as 

 the scales of j^^the adjoining series; they are 398 in number. Six small prajanal shields. 

 Scales smooth in young specimens. Body with fifty-five blackish rings, not quite as broad as 

 the yellowish ground-colour between them ; they are rather broader and darker on the back 

 than on the belly, and sometimes subinterrupted in the vertebral and ventral line. Head 

 yellow above, with irregular blackish confluent spots ; whitish below. Tail with eleven 

 blackish vertical bars. 



I have examined only one young specimen, which had been transferred from the collection 

 of the East India Company to that of the British Museum ; it is 13 J inches long, the tail 

 measuring 1-| inch, the cleft of the mouth f inch. 



Hydrophis ornata. (Plate XXV. fig. V.) 



Aturia ornata. Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 61. 



, var. 1, Gray, Viper. Snakes, j). 45. 



Chitulia inoruata, Gray, Viper. Snakes, f). 56. 



Thalassophis scUegelii, Schmidt, Abhandl. Natunv. Harnb. ii. p. 83. tab. 5. 



Hydrophis schlegelii, Fischer, Abhandl. Naturw. Hamb. iii. p. 50. 



Isevis, Liitken, Naturh. Foren. Vidensk. Meddel. 1862, taf. 1. fig. 6. 



Head rather narrow, snout somewhat elongate ; body of moderate length, with its anterior 

 part rather elongate. Two pairs of chin-shields, the anterior of which are in contact with 

 each other, the posterior being separated by one or two series of smaller scales. The first 

 upper temporal much longer than high. Two postoculars ; thirty-five series of scales round 

 the neck. Ventral shields twice as broad as the scales of the adjoining series, 252-260 in 



