290 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



To impart an idea of the proportions, the dimensions of 

 an adult specimen are given : 



Total length 24 inches. 



Vertical diameter % of an inch. 



Lateral diameter T 9 ^ of an inch. 



Length of tail 2% inches. 



Vertical breadth of tail % of an inch. 



Width of head £| of an inch. 



Length of head 1 T 5 5 of an inch. 



The specimen measured was taken off the coast of 

 Panama. At the lower edge the tail was a quarter of an 

 inch in thickness, whence it gradually became flat toward 

 the top — the upper edge being sharp and fin-like. 



The Yellow-bellied Sea Snake is widely distributed. 

 It is common in the Indian Ocean, the waters of Ma- 

 laysia and the tropical and semi-tropical Pacific gener- 

 ally. The species is dreaded by fishermen, who often 

 haul up specimens in their nets. 



Some of the Sea Snakes have the body decorated with 

 bright transverse bands, imparting a ringed effect. 

 One of these is technically known as Hydrophis obscura. 

 The colors are dull olive and yellow. Three feet is the 

 average length. The form is extremely eccentric — a 

 stout body and broad, paddle-shaped tail, but anteriorly 

 stretching into a long, whip-like neck and singularly 

 small head. Most of the species of Hydrophis are 

 brightly colored. 



The Elapine Snakes; subfamily Elapince: The 

 members of this important subfamily are treacherously 

 deceptive in appearance; largely so in actions. Here 

 we have admirable illustrations of how incorrect it is to 

 believe that the venomous snake may be told by a thick 

 body and a heart-shaped head. Such is certainly not 

 the case with the cobras, their numerous Old World al- 



