370 OPHIDIA. 



than one-thii'd of the total length ; body rather elongate. Rostral shield broader than high ; 

 only the fourth upper labial forms the lower part of the orbit ; one postocular ; two large 

 temporal shields on the side of each occipital. Two pairs of chin-shields, which are in con- 

 tact with one another. Thirty-three to thirty-five series of scales round the neck. Scales 

 imbricate, keeled ; those on the highest part of the body rather longer than broad, with the 

 apex slightly truncated. Ventrals twice as broad as the scales of the adjoining series, bicari- 

 nate, 283-285 in number. Four anal shields, the outer of which are very large. Terminal 

 scale of the tail of moderate size. Trunk with from fifty to fifty-two blackish-olive cross 

 bands, broadest on the back, tapering on the sides, and becoming very faint on the belly. 

 The width of the greenish interspaces on the back equals that of the broadest part of the 

 cross bands ; the cross bands on the neck are not narrower on the sides than on the back ; 

 an elongate irregular black spot occupies the crown of the head forwards to the frontal 

 shields, and is separated from the black snout and upper lip by a yellow band. Lower jaw 

 and throat blackish ; belly white. 



The four specimens which I have examined of this species are evidently young, the largest 

 being only 23 inches long. They are from Cantor's collection, who procured them on the 

 coast of Pinang. 



Hydrophis chloris. 



Russell, Ind. Serp. ii. pi. 7. 



Hydrophis clorisj Daud. Hist. Rept. vii. p. 377. 



obscura, Gray, Viper. Snakes, p. 49 (not syuou.). 



? Hydi'opbis gracilis, Cantor, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii. pi. 56. 



Head very small, of moderate width ; neck very slender, the length of the thin part of the 

 body being more than one-third of the total. Rostral shield very small, much broader than 

 long ; one postocular ; the third upper labial is not in contact with the nasal. Two pairs of 

 chin-shields, in contact with each other. Thirty-one to thii-ty-three series of scales round the 

 neck ; scales on the back with a faint keel, and with a small tubercle near the apex. Ventral 

 shields distinct, especially on the thin portion of the body, but not much larger than the 

 scales of the adjoining series, 473-500 in number. Four anal shields, the outer of which are 

 very large. Trunk greenish olive above, yellowish on the side and below : from fifty-nine to 

 sixty-seven rhombic blackish bands across the back, which are much narrower and fainter on 

 the sides, and extend round the belly ; their angles on the vertebral line are sometimes con- 

 fluent, especially on the anterior part of the body, where the yellowish ground-colour between 

 the cross bands is sometimes reduced to round spots disposed in pairs. Head and anterior 

 part of the belly entirely black. Youwj specimens have the markings of a deep black. 



I have examined three adult specimens of this species and numerous young ones ; they 

 are from the coasts of Madras and Pinang: Russell's specimen came from the coast of the 

 Sunderbunds. Our largest specimen is 40 inches long, the cleft of the mouth measuring 

 4|- lines, and the tail 3 inches. 



