COLUBRHS-.T];. 117 



Very similar in appeairaice to a Hydropliis, with which it is 

 often confounded, Frequently found in the sea. Feeds on fish, 

 and is viviparous. 



Genus XENODERMUS 

 Reinhardt, Overs. Vid. Selsk. Fork. 1836, p. 0. 



Teeth subequal, about 15 in each maxillary. Head distinct 

 from neck, covered with granular juxtaposed scales ; nosti'ils 

 directed forwards, in an undivided nasal ; eye moderate, with 

 round pupil. Body slender, compressed, with small juxtaposed 

 keeled scales and longitudinal rows of large tubercles ; ventrals 

 well developed. Tail long, with single subcaudals. 



A single species. 



122. Xenodermus javanicus. 



Reinh. L c, and Vid. Selsk. Skrift. x, p. 2-57, pi. ii,figs. 1-8(1843) 

 Bouleug. Cat. Su. i, p. 175 (1893). 



Eostral small, triangular, not visible from above ; nasals meeting 

 behind the point of the rostral, followed by two pairs of small 

 shields ; labials scarcely enlarged, about 20 on each side. About 

 40 scales across the body ; the enlarged tubercles disposed in 

 pairs alternating with single ones on the vertebral line, and 

 forming a single series along each side of the back. Ventrals 

 173-185 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 147. Dark brown above, 

 lighter beneath. 



Total length 350 millim. ; tail 135. 



Java and Sumatra. Recorded from Penang by F. Midler, 

 Verb. Wat. Ges. Basel, vii, 1887, p. 268. A specimen from the 

 coast of Perak is preserved in the Federated Malay States Museum. 



Nothing is known of the habits of this rare snake. 



Subfamily COLUBRIN^. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



I. Teeth very small, equal, closely set, 

 more than 35 in each maxillary ; head 

 not or hut slightly distinct from 

 neck ; pupil round ; scales smooth, 



in 17 rows Polyodontophis^ p. 120. 



II. Less than 35 teeth in each maxillary. 

 A. Pupil round ; scales keeled, in 19 

 (rarely 17) rows; ventrals not 

 angulate laterally, 120-180; sub- 

 caudals not more than 115. 



1. A pair of internasal shields. 



Teeth equal nostril in a single nasal .... Xenochrophis, p. 121. 

 Teeth increasing in size posteriorly, forming 



a continuous series Tropidonotus, p. 122. 



Two last teeth very large fangs, separated 



from the rest by an interspace Maceopisthodon, p. 128, 



2. A .single internasal shield Hrlicops, p. 130. 



