168 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
in contact. Infralabials : the fourth is the largest of the series 
and touches two scales behind. The suture between the first 
is longer than that between the anterior sublinguals. Margi- 
nals: none occur between the first five infralabials. Scales : 
imbricate anteriorly, juxtaposed behind. Ventrals : divided pos- 
teriorly. They are all typical in colour and markings. 
Irregularities. 
Seales. 
— Se 
Anterior. Mid-body. Posterior. Ventrals. Museum No. 
re ES age Galas ae a Oe te 119 .. Adult 
BAWIAY A, Ot Ie. Bi) wiht Sate ee Me ge 
COs oe Se her Byes Dea LO! Ae do. 
Dae. 007 0. BOAT: ly Dae Tons os ae 
Ais erroneously labelled H. fasciatus. 
Distira Stokesi (Gray). 
Two examples are preserved in spirits. One is the large adult 
presented by Captain Donnan from the pearl fishery, and referred 
to by Ferguson (Reptile’ Faun. Ceylon, 1877, No. 1061) and 
Haly (Catalogues, 1886, No. 56; and 1891, No. 122). It is a 
very heavy creature, remarkable as a sea snake for the girth of 
its head and neck. The girth behind the neck I measured 7} 
inches and in mid-body 9 inches. It is over 5 feet in length. 
The small specimen is that presented by Master J. Robertson. 
referred to by Haly (Catalogues, 1886, No. 56; and 1891, No. 122). 
They agree as follows :—Rostral : portion visible above half 
to two-thirds the suture between the nasals. Prefrontals touch 
the second labial. Postoculars: two. Anterior temporals : two 
or three, followed by two other large shields in contact with the 
parietals. Labials : nine to eleven; the fourth, fifth, and sixth 
touching the eye. Sublinguals : absent. Scales : strongly imbri- 
cate and with subdentate borders. Ventrals : a few are present 
in the neck; except for these, they are replaced by a pair of 
imbricate scales similar to the adjacent costals. 
A, large adult.—Scales are 44, 54, and 50 in the anterior, mid, 
and posterior parts of the body. B, half grown.—Scales 42, 52, 
and 44 in the same parts of the body as preceding; both are 
labelled No. 122. The supraoculars are partially divided trans- 
versely in both specimens. 
Distira ornata (Gray). 
There are four specimens, which agree in the following :— 
Rostral : povtion seen above about half the length of the suture 
between the nasals. Prefrontals touch the second labial, except 
Se 
