THE PELAGIC OR SEA SNAKES. 237 



alive, but informs us that their exceeding delicacy caused 

 their rapid death in spite of the utmost care. Dr. Vincent 

 Richards, however, has succeeded in keeping some alive 

 several weeks. 



In length they vary from two to ten feet. Krefift says 

 that the largest he ever saw was nine feet long. Giinther 

 states that they sometimes attain twelve feet, and sea 

 snakes of even fourteen feet in length have been occa- 

 sionally reported, though not perhaps from well authenti- 

 cated sources. It is probable that, like all other reptiles, 

 they attain their greatest proportions in the hottest 



regions. 



Though purely oceanic, and no more found in fresh water 

 than on dry ground, yet they come some distance up the 

 rivers as far as brackish water. When washed on shore by 

 the surf, they are helpless and blind, and at such times 

 ' peaceable,' by reason of their helplessness. Occasionally 

 they are seen coiled up asleep on the beach, where they 

 have probably been washed by the tide, and where the next 

 tide will no doubt release them from their uncongenial 

 bed. Those species which have a less keeled body and 

 the partially developed ventral scales might even manage 

 to get back to sea independently of the tide. Even those 

 without ventral scales contrive to wriggle along in their own 

 fashion. 



Such an occurrence is related by Mr. E. H. Pringle in the 

 Field newspaper of 3d September 1881. He tracked an 

 Enhydrina fifty feet along the sands, making its way back 

 to the sea from a salt-water pool, where it had probably 

 been left by the tide. This species is the one peculiarly 



