182 COLUBBlDyi;. 



present ; loreal usually absent. Body more or less elongate, often 

 very slender anteriorly ; scales on anterior part of body imbricate ; 

 ventrals very small, if distinct. 



Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Persian Gulf to Japan and 

 New Caledonia. 



So far, only 15 species can be recorded from the coasts of the 

 Malay Peninsula, but many more will be discovered. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Head not remarkably small, nor neck 

 remarkably slender. 



A. All the scales distinctly imbricate ; 



ventrals usually in pairs, except quite 

 anteriorly ; no chin-shields ; 9 or 10 

 upper labials ; 39-47 scales round 

 neck, 48-57 round body* //. stohesii, p. 183. 



B. Scales on posterior part of body feebly 



imbricate or juxtaposed ; one or two 

 pairs of chin-shields; 7 or 8 upper 

 labials. 



1. Eye as long as or a little longer thau 



its distance from the mouth ; second 

 pair of chin-shields, if distinct, 

 separated by several scales ; 2 or 3 

 superposed anterior temporals ; 35- 

 42 scales round neck, 40-50 round 

 body H. urnatus, p. 184. 



2. Eye much shorter than its distance 



from mouth in the adult ; two pairs 

 of chin-shields, in contact on the 

 middle line, or posterior pair sepa- 

 rated by a single scale ; 27-33 scales 

 round neck, 32-45 round body. 

 A single large anterior temporal ; scales 

 smooth or with a central tubercle or short 



obtuse keel , H. brvtpnansii, p. 184. 



A single large anterior temporal ; scales very 

 strongly keeled, many of the keels broken 



up into tubercles H. wrayi, p. 185. 



Two superposed anterior temporals; scales 

 very strongly keeled, the keels often 

 broken up into tubercles H. cyunocinctus, p. 185. 



C. Scales slightly imbricate, 15-17 round 



neck, 19-21 round body ; eye as long 

 as its distance from mouth ; 5 upper 

 labials, followed by a large temporal 

 descending to the edge of the month . H. jerdonii, p. 186. 



* At its thickest ]ioint. 



