HYDR0PH1S ROBUSTA. 



" Head of moderate size and width ; neck and body not elongate. 

 Two or three upper labials below the orbit ; one post-ocular ; 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, each 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 with- 

 out markings in the adult; throat and belly whitish. This snake, of 

 which we have examined two adult examples, six feet long, is found on 

 the coast 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 recognisable. " 



A 



