A MONOGRAPH OF THE SWA-SNAKBS (HYDROPHILN 4). 229 
SRP 
> 
OY 
is 
= 
SOO Ce. 
SINGLES, 
Fig. 43.—Dristhira (Hydrophis) bituberculata. After Peters, Mon. Berl. Acad., pl. ii, fig 2. 
This form is only known from a single example which is preserved in the Berlin 
Museum. As already observed by Mr. Boulenger its affinities are extremely close to 
lapemoides, and I am dubious whether it has sufficient claiin to be considered distinct 
from this or cyanocincta, uniting as it does the characters of each. ‘The difference in 
the number of rows anteriorly and in midbody is remarkable, wiz. 19, a disparity 
beyond that seen in any other species of approximately similar corporeal habit. The 
greatest difference I have met with in /apemoides is in Fayrer’s specimen from Puri 
now in the British Museum, and in this it amounts to 16. In the other specimens I 
have seen it ranges between g to 11. The single large anterior temporal is probably 
abnormal, as seen in certain specimens of cyanocincta, and other species in which these 
shields are normally small. 
Not having examined the specimen I prefer to leave it as placed by Peters and 
Boulenger. 
Description.—Rostral,—the portion visible above about two-thirds the 
internasal suture. Praefrontals,—touch no supralabial. Postoculars,—two. 
Temporals,—one large anterior shield, followed by another subequal shield. 
Supralabials,—seven, the anterior five well-developed, the third and fourth touch- 
ing the eye Infralabials,—tfour, the last touching three or four scales behind ; the 
suture between the first subequal to that between the anterior sublinguals. Mar- 
ginals,—one aiter the third infralabial. Sublinguals,—two well-developed pairs, 
the fellows of the posterior pair separated. Costals,—anteriorly 28, n midbody 47; 
imbricate posteriorly. Ventrals,—278, about twice as broad as the last costal row. 
Colour,—dorsally dark brown, ventrally yellowish. 
Habitat.—Ceylon. 
DISTIRA TORQUATA (Gunther). 
Hydrophis torquatus, Giinther, Rept. Brit. Ind., 1864, p. 369, pl. xxv, fig. H. 
ae A Boulgr. in Blanford, Fauna Brit. Ind. Rept. and Batrach., 
1890, p. 402. 
ee ia Boulgr., Cat. Brit. Mus., 1896, iti, p. 283. 
