237 

 1 8. Hydrophis macfarlani (Boulenger). 



Distira macfarlani^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Ill 1896, p. 294, pi. XVII, fig. i. 



Head moderate; rostral more broad than deep; nasals shorter 

 than the frontal, about three times the length of the suture 

 between the praefrontals; latter in contact with the second 

 labial; frontal more long than broad, as long as or longer 

 than its distance from the tip of the snout, shorter than the 

 parietals; one prae- and two postoculars; two superposed 

 anterior temporals; seven or eight upper labials, second largest, 

 third and fourth entering the eye, fifth entering the eye or 

 divided and forming a subocular; both pairs of chin-shields 

 in contact. Body long; scales imbricate, smooth or dorsals 

 keeled, in 43 — 45 rows (31 — 35 anteriorly); ventrals small, 

 220 — 256. 



Whitish, with a dorsal and ventral series of black rhomboidal 

 spots or bars; on the neck and just before the tail the dorsal 

 and ventral spots unite on each side; head black, with a 

 yellow spot on the forehead and a yellow streak from the 

 eye along the temple. Length of head and body 420 mm.; 

 tail 40 mm. 



Type-specimen examined in the British Museum. 



Habitat: New Guinea. — Murray Island!. 



19. Hydrophis cyanocinctus Daudin. 



Hydrophis cyanocinctus^ Daudin, Kept. \\\ 1803, p. 383. 

 Distira cyanocincta^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Ill 1896, p. 294. 

 Hydrophis cyanocinctus^ Boulenger, Kept. Malay Penin. 1912, p. 185. 



Head moderate; eye shorter than its distance from the 

 mouth in the adult. Rostral slightly more broad than deep; 

 nasals shorter than the frontal, more than twice as long as 

 the suture between the praefrontals; praefrontals usually in 

 contact with the second upper labial; frontal more long than 

 broad, as long as its distance from the rostral or the tip of 

 the snout; one prae- and two postoculars; two superposed 

 anterior temporals; seven or eight upper labials, third, fourth 

 and usually fifth entering the eye or divided; both pairs of 

 chin-shields in contact or posterior separated by one scale. 

 Body long; scales sub-imbricate, keeled or with two or three 

 tubercles, in 39 — 45 rows (27 — 33 anteriorly); ventrals 281 — 385, 

 smooth or with two or more tubercles. 



