SNAKES. 



41 



into a shield ; and many specimens have a series of small triangular 

 shields on the edge of the lips, between the sutures of the lip-shield, 

 not found in other individuals of the same species. 



The distribution of the colours on the body appears to be one 

 of the most permanent characters of the species ; but this becomes 

 less distinct in the older specimens, and is often lost in the speci- 

 mens that have been carelessly or long preserved in a museum. 



A. Head shielded to the nape. Nasal shields very large, with the 

 large operculated superior nostrils in their hinder edge : the 

 frontal shields 2 pair, small : loreal shield none : labial shields 

 high, large : tail compressed. 



a. Scales square, smooth, imbedded, placed side bg side : head elon- 

 gate, depressed ; gape wide ; labial shields large, erect; eye over 

 the fourth or fifth shield. Pelamina, Gray, Zool. Misc. 59, 

 1842. 



1. Pelamis. 



Head long, depressed ; gape wide. 



Pelamis, Gray, Ann. Phil. x. 1 825, 207. Zool. Misc. 59, 1842. 

 Pelamis sp., Daud. Rept. vii. 357. Cuv. R. A. ii. 75, ed. 2, ii. 

 Merrem, Tent. 138. Fitz. Isis, 1827, 32. Hydrophis sp., Latr. 

 Rept. iv. 193. Enhydris, Lair. Rept. ir. 206.' Daud. Rept. vii. 

 235. Anguis sp., Linn. Hydrus sp., Schneider, Amph. i. 233. 



* Back black. 



1. The Black-backed Pelamis. Pelamis bicolor, Daud. 

 Rept. vi. 366. Merrem, Tent. 138. Gray, Zool. Misc. 60. Anguis 

 platura, Linn. S. N. i. 391. Nalla whalagellee pam, Russell, Ind. 

 Serp. i. 47, t. 41. Hydrus bicolor, Schneid. Amph. i. 242. Shaw, 

 Zool. iii. 566, 1. 126. Enhydris dorsalis, Latr. Rept. iv. 206. Daud. 

 Rept. vii. 235. Hydrophis platura, Latr. Rept. iv. 197. Hydrophis 

 pelamis, Schlegel, Phys. Serp. 508, t. 18, /. 13 — 15. 



Above black ; upper lip, lower part of sides and belly yellow : 

 the lower edge of the hinder part of the black band even ; tail yel- 

 low, black varied on the upper and lower edge, and with a few black 

 spots on the centre of each side ; vent black ; posterior ocular shield 

 single, large ; lower ocular shield single, continued under the pos- 

 terior ocular. 



E 3 



