220 



deep, in contact with four shields; nasal in contact with the 

 first and second upper labials; eight or nine upper labials, fifth 

 sometimes entering the eye, which is bordered by 8 or 9 small 

 shields; the anterior five or six labials well developed, the 

 others divided; chin-shields small, indistinct. Scales smooth or 

 obtusely keeled, in 19 rows; ventrals 156 — 166. 



Brown or yellowish with brown spots, forming irregular 

 transverse bars. Length of head and body 820 mm.; tail i lo mm. 



Habitat: New Guinea (Yule Island). — Australia!. 



3. Aipysurus laevis Lacepede. 



Aipystirus laevis^ Lacepede, Ann. Mus. IV 1804, p. 197, 210, pi. LVI, fig. 3. 

 Aipysurus laevis^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Ill 1896, p. 305 (s. syn.). 



Rostral more broad than deep; praefrontals in a single row 

 of four or a double row of three or four, not in contact with 

 the labials; frontal more long than broad or broken up; 

 supraocular divided into two; parietals broken up; nasals 

 separated from the labials; one to three prae- and two or three 

 postoculars; seven to ten upper labials, fourth to sixth entering 

 the eye, if not broken up; two small pair of chin-shields, both 

 or the posterior only separated by scales. Scales smooth, in 

 21 — 25 rows, vertebrals sometimes enlarged; ventrals 137 — 162, 

 sometimes with an obtuse keel posteriorly; anal divided. 



Brown, uniform or with small dark spots. Length of head 

 and body 1550 mm.; tail 170 mm. 



Habitat: Arafura Sea; Kei Islands!; Aru Islands; New 

 Guinea. — Torres Straits; Cape York; Queensland; Loyalty 

 Islands. 



53. Enhydrina Gray. 



(Gray, Cat. Sn. p. 47, 1849). 



Nostrils superior; eye small; pupil round; head-shields large; 

 nasals in contact; a praeocular; noloreal; mental shield narrow, 

 partly concealed in a deep groove (fig. 85). Maxillary teeth 

 2 large fangs, followed by four teeth. Body moderate, covered 

 with imbricate scales; ventrals small. Tail strongly compressed. 



Distribution. From the Persian Gulf to New Guinea. 



A single species. 



