186 MAJOR F. WALL, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S. 
PLATURUS COLUBRINUS (Schneider. ) 
Hydrus colubrinus, Schneid., Hist. Amph., 1799, 1, p. 238. 
? Hydrophis colubrinus, Schlegel, Phys. Serp. ii, 1837, p. 514, pl. xviii, figs. 
21 and 22. 
Platurus colubrinus, Boulgr. in Blanford, Fauna Ind. Rept. and Batrach., 1890, 
Pp. 395 and Cat. iti, 1896, p. 308. 
Pe, a Sclater, List Snakes Ind. Mus., 1891, p. 62. 
Me ie Wall in Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1903, pp. 96 and rot. 
- fasciatus, Jan, Icon. Gén., 1872, livr. 40, pl. i, fig. 1. 
43. seutatus, Grinther, Rept. Brit. Ind., 1864, p. 356. 
Fig. 3.—Platurus colubrinus (nat. size). 
I have examined upwards of twenty of this species. 
Description.—R ostral,—touches six shields; the rostro-labial sutures much the 
largest. Internasals,—apair. Praefrontals,—three subequal shields in one trans- 
verse row; the outer touching no supralabial. Frontal,—entire; touches seven 
shields; the fronto-parietal sutures largest. Supraoculars,—half to about two- 
thirds as broad, and as long asthe frontal. Parietals,—entire. Nasals,—lateral; 
in contact with the first three supralabials usually (sometimes only the first two). 
Preoculars,—one. Postoculars,—two. Temporals,—one (sometimes two). 
Supralabials,—seven ; the third and fourth touching the eye. Infralabials,— 
the fourth is the largest of the series, and in contact with three or four scales 
behind. Marginals,—acomplete row after the second infralabial. Sublinguals,—- 
two well developed pairs, the fellows of eachin contact. Costals, anteriorly 21 to 25, 
midbody 21 to 25, posterioriy usually 21 (rarely 23); imbricate; smooth. Ventrals, 
—195 to 240; three or more times as broad as the last costal row ; the last one or two 
very frequently divided. Anal,—divided. Colour,—tike the last, but in old speci- 
mens the bands are often effaced ventrally, and converted into dorsal bars. 
Habitat—From the Bay of Bengal through the Malayan Region, China, Philip- 
pines to Australia and New Zealand. 
EMYDOCEPHALUS. 
Key to the species of Emydocephalus. 
(A) Prefrontals 4; vertebrals much enlarged ; costals smooth; a ventral 
keel posteriorly : 
(B) Prefrontals 2; vertebrals not enlarged; costals tuberculate; no ven- 
tral keel .. 
Ime. 
annulatus. 
