PLATUEUS. 197 



These snakes approach iu many respects the genus Bungarnsin 

 the following suhfamiiy. 



217. Platurus coluhrinus. 



Hydrtts colubrinus, Schneid. Hist. Amph. i, p. 238 (1799). 

 Laticauda sciitata (uou Laur.), Cantor, Journ. Asiat. iSoc. Bengal, 



xvi, p. 1046 (1847). 

 Plattirus scutatiis, Giintb. liept. Brit. Ind. p. 356 (18G4). 

 Plaiurvs colubrinus, Bouleng. Faun. Brit. Ind., Eept. p. 395 (1890) ; 



id. Cat. Sn. iii, p. 308 (1896). 



Eostral deeper than hroad; an azygous shield between the prse- 

 frontals and sometimes one or two between the internasals ; frontal 

 as long as or slightly shorter than the parietals; one prse- and two 

 postoculars : temporals 1 + 2 (rarely 2 + 2); 6 or 7 npper labials, 

 third and fourth entering the eye. Scales in 21 to 25 rows. 

 Ventrals not keeled, 195-240 ; sul3caudals 30-45. Olive or grey 

 above, yellowish beneath, with black or blackish aunuli which are 

 as wide as the interspaces between them or narrower; some or all 

 of the annuli may be interrupted on the belly. Iris black. 



Total length 1270 millim. ; tail 125. 



Bay of Bengal to Chinese Sea and Western South Pacific 

 Ocean. Eecorded from Penaug and Singapore. 



This snake is not so absolutely aquatic as the other sea-snakes, 

 and has occasionally been found crawling about out of the water. 

 It is not known ever to bite. 



The allied Platiirvs laticcmdatus, Linn., distinguished by the 

 absence of azygous shields on the snout, will probably be found on 

 the coasts of the Malay Peninsula, as its distribution is nearly the 

 same as that of P. coluhrimis. 



Subfamily ELAPIN^. 



Synojisis of the Genera. 



I. Body moderately slender. 



Vertebral scales enlarged Bungarus, p. 198. 



^'ertebral scales not enlarged ; neck more or less 



dilatable, with oblique scales Naia, p. 200. 



II. Body very slender; scales iu 13 rows, verte- 

 brals not enlarged. 



Poison-gland not extending beyond the head ; anal 



divided Callophis, p. 203. 



Poison-gland extending along each side of the an- 

 terior third of the body ; lieart shifted hack to 

 second third of body ; anal entire DoLioniis, p, 204. 



