186 ON THE PHYSIOGNOMY OF SERPENTS. 



4. Hydrophis gracilis. — Habit of the last, but of less 

 fiize, and of a very attenuated form, especially towards the 

 neck, which is very slender. Head smaller than in the 

 other species, and very narrow ; yellowish, with transverse, 

 lozenge-shaped, black spots. This last colour occupies 

 all the anterior parts, so that the ground colour only 

 appears as narrow bands. Head black, a light spot 

 above the eye. S. 355 + 50. 27 Rows of scales. Gulf 

 of Bengal, and Straits of Sunda. 



6. Hydrophis Pelamis. — Has small hexagonal scales, 

 disposed as a pavement ; form massive ; head much elon- 

 gated ; middle line of the abdomen indicated by a suture 

 formed by the two last rows of scales, of which we reckon 

 47 in all. S. 350 + 60. Above blackish-brown; below 

 yellow ; tail, and sometimes even the whole body of the 

 animal, varied by these two tints. This is the most com- 

 mon species ; it is found in all the latitudes inhabited by 

 seii-serpents. 



6. Hydrophis Pelamoides. — Form much more short 

 and thick than the last, which it approximates by the 

 structure of the scales ; but these organs are larger, and 

 we only find from 25 to 30 rows. Vestiges of abdominal 

 plates, imbedded in the middle suture of the belly. 

 Yellowish, with large dorsal spots lozenge-shaped. S. 

 136 + 27. Gulf of Bengal, and Seas of China, and the 

 Molucca Islands. 



Hydrophis colubrina. — An anomalous species, easily 

 recognised by the smooth imbricated scales, covered with 

 a corneous epidermis ; by the lateral nostrils ; by the pre- 

 sence of 5 occipital plates ; by its abdominal plates, much 

 larger than usual. 23 E-ows of scales. S. 220 + 38. 

 Dark green, marked with large black rings, obsolete in 

 the adult. Almost as common as the H. pelamis. In- 

 liabits the same places. 



The Third and last Family of Venomous Serpents com- 

 prehends 



The Venomous Serpents properly so called. 

 They have a physiognomy quite peculiar, with some- 

 thing hideous in their aspect. We might even say, that 



