AIPYSURUS ANGUILL^FORMIS. 357 



rally, it is not confluent with the next following ring. Upper part of the snout yellow, upper 

 labials black. 



I have no dovibt that this is a distinct species, as eight specimens examined by myself show 

 the same assemblage of characters ; they are from the Bay of Bengal, from Chartaboum on 

 the coast of Siam, from New Guinea, and from Aneiteum (New Hebrides). The largest 

 specimen is only 30 inches long. 



AIPYSURUS, Lacep. 



Body not much compressed, with trencliant belly, of moderate length. 

 Shields of the head generally divided into more or less numerous smaller 

 pieces ; normally only one pair of frontals ; nostrils superior, each in a 

 single nasal, the nasals being contiguous to each other. Scales of moderate 

 size, imbricate, smooth or slightly tubercular ; ventral shields well developed, 

 with a longitudinal median ridge. Subcaudals broad, entire. 



The species of this genus appear to belong rather to the fauna of Polynesia and Australia 

 than to that of British India, no instance of a specimen captured in the seas of the latter 

 countries being on record. 



AlPYSURUS ANGUILL^FORMIS. 



ThaJassopliis anguillseformis, Schmidt, Abhandl. Naturw. Hamb. ii. p. 76. taf. 1. 



miu'seujeformis, Schmidt, I. c. p. 77. 



? Tomogaster eydouxii, Bibr. in Voy. Pole Sud, Rept. pi. 6. (This figure distinctly shows twenty- 

 one series of scales on the highest part of the body.) 



Tomogaster eydouxii, Gray, Viper. Snakes, p. 59. 



? Aipysvu'us Isevis, Guichen. Voy. Pole Sud, Rept. p. 21. 



Aipysurus Isevis, Du?n. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 1326. pi. 77 bis. fig. 4. Fischer, Abhandl. Naturw. Hamb. 

 iii. p. 32 (not Lacepede; Lacepede's typical specimen has 151 ventral shields). 



margaritophorus, Bleek. Natuurk. Tydschr. Nederl. Ind. xvi. p. 49. 



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

 shields 142*. Tail covered laterally with scales similar to those of the trunk, and termi- 

 nating 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 uniform blackish. An 

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

 confluent brown spots on the back. 



* This number has been found not only by Schmidt, but also by myself in two examples. 



