PLA.TURUS. 395 



the general appearance. In fact, nothing but the shape of the 

 tail would prevent Flaturus being placed close to Biinganis and 

 Callo/Jiis. ISpecies of Platurus are not so absolutely aquatic as the 

 other Hydrophids, and there are several records of specimens found 

 at some distance from water. In a recent note on Snakes from 

 Sumatra, Dr. van Lidth de Jeude mentions that a specimen of 

 P. colubrinus was captured by Dr. Hageu in the forests of Serdang 

 at a distance from the sea of nearly a day's journey. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



A. No ventral keel. 



a. No azj'gous shield on snout ; scales in 



19 rows P. laticaudatus, p. 395. 



b. Au azygoiis shield between prsefrontals ; 



scales in 21-25 rows P. colubrinus, p. 395. 



B. A keel along posterior half of beUy .... P. schistorhynchus. 



P. schistorJn/ncJitis, Gthr. (//. coluhrinus, Schleg. Faun. Japon., 

 Rept. pi. x), is known from the Chinese Sea and the Western 

 Pacific, but has not been recorded from the coasts of India or 

 Burma. 



487. Platurus laticaudatus. 



Coluber laticaudatus, Linn, Miis. Ad. Frid. pi. xvi, fig. 1 ; id. Syst. 



Nat. i, p. 383. 

 Laticaudata scutata, Laur. Syn. Rcpt. p. 109. 

 Platurus fasciatiis, part., Daud. liept. vii, p. 226 ; Dum. 8f Bihr. Erp. 



Gin. vii, p. 1321. 

 Platurus tischeri, Jan, Rev. et May. Zool. 1859, p. 149 ; Giudh. Rept . 



B. I. p. 35G, pi. XXV, fig. A ; Andi^s. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 189 ; Fayrer, 



Thanatoph. pi. xix ; Jan, Icon. ()phid. 40, pi. i, fig. 2, 

 Platurus atfiuis, Anders. I. c. p. 190. 

 Platurus laticaudatus, Peters, MB. Ak. Berl. 1877, p. 417. 



No azygous shields on the snout ; one prse- and two postoculars ' 

 7 or 8 upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye ; temporals 

 1 + 2. Scales in 19 rows. Yentrals not keeled, 220-240 ; sub- 

 caudals 25-45. Olive above, yellowish beneath, \\'ith black annuli 

 w hich are as broad as the interspaces between them or broadei*. 



Total length 3 feet 3 inches. 



IJah. From the Bay of Bengal and the Chinese Sea to Polynesia. 



488. Platurus colubrinus. 



Hydrus colubrinus, Schneid. Hist. Amph. i, p. 238. 



Platurus fasciatus, part., Daud. Rept. vii, p. 220, pi. Ixxxv, fig. 1 ; 



Dum. ^' Bihr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 1321. 

 Laticauda scutata, Cantor, J. A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 1046, 

 Platurus fasciatus, Jan, Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1859, p. 149, and Icon. 



Ophid. 40, Y>\. i,fig. 1. 

 Platurus scutatus, Giintk. Rept. B. I. p. 356. 

 Platurus coluhrinus, Peteis, MB. Ak. BerL 1877, p. 418. 



