364 OPHIDIA. 



larly disposed along the ventral line ; 236 transverse series of scales between the throat and 

 the vent. Four large anal shields ; tail covered with rhombic scales larger than those of the 

 body ; terminal scale of the tail small. Back of the trunk with thirty-one large rhombic 

 black spots, rather broader than the interspaces between them, and not extending downwards 

 to the middle of the sides. 



The typical specimen is the only individual which I have examined ; it has been preserved 

 in spirits for a long time and is much bleached ; it is a male, with a thick and elevated tail, 

 said to be from the Indian Ocean, and 44 inches long, the cleft of the mouth measuring 

 10 lines, and the tail 4f inches. Shaw has confounded this species with H. stokesii : the 

 larger specimen "more than 3 feet long," which also has been figured by him, must be con- 

 sidered as the type, to which the name of "ma;'or" properly belongs. We have given an 

 upper and a lateral view of its head, of the natural size. A second specimen with the acci- 

 dental " strictures of the tail," and also preserved in the British Museum, is a //. stokesii. 



Hydrophis robusta. 



Hydrophis nigrocincta, Schleg. Phtjs. Serp. ii. p. 505. pi. 18. figs. 8-10 (adult specimens) (not 

 synon.). Fischer, Abhandl. Naturw. Hamb. iii. p. 46. taf. 1 (not synon.). 



Head of moderate size and Avidth ; neck and body not elongate. Two or three upper 

 labials below the orbit ; one postocular ; anterior temporal shield large ; two pairs of chin- 

 shields, which are in contact with one another. Thirty-one series of scales round the neck. 

 Scales slightly imbricate, eacli with a subcentral tubercle ; those on the highest part of the 

 body are rounded or subtruncated behind, as high as long. Ventrals twice or thrice as broad 

 as the scales of the adjoining series, smooth, 310 in number'. Terminal scale of the tail 

 rather large. Trunk with thirty-five narrow, distant, black rings, extending round the belly, 

 sometimes interrupted on the side and dilated on the back ; head without markings in the 

 adult ; throat and belly whitish. 



This snake, of which we have examined two adult examples, 6 feet long, is found on the 

 coasts of the mainland of India as well as in the Archipelago. It has been confounded 

 with other species by all the previous herpetologists. The figure given by Fischer is very 

 recognizable. 



Hydrophis belch kri. 



Aturia belcheri, Gray, Viper. Snakes, p. 46. 



Head of moderate width and size ; neck not very slender, body of moderate length. 

 Rostral shield nearly as broad as long ; only the fourth upper labial forms the lower part of 

 the orbit ; two postoculars ; three temporal shields on the side of each occipital. Two pairs 

 of chin-shields, which are in contact with one another. Twenty-five series of scales round 



