240 MAJOR F. WALL, I.M.S.. C.M.Z.S. 
times). Again in all the other species the sutures made by the frontal with its con- 
tiguous shields are subequal, or the fronto-parietal sutures are rather the longest. In 
viperina the fronto-supraocular sutures are the shortest, and only half as long as the 
fronto-parietals. The anterior ventrals in all the other species are barely twice as 
broad as the last costal row. In this they are four times as broad or broader. I 
think it extremely probable that osteological peculiarities will be found justifying its 
separation from this genus and the creation of a genus apart. 
Hydrophis mgra. This is known from a solitary specimen which is now in the 
British Museum. It was originally described by Anderson,' and subsequently figured 
by Fayrer. It has the peculiar frontal and anterior ventrals typical of viperina and 
agrees with this species in all other respects except colour, being black throughout. 
(The specimen is now shrivelled, and the detail of some of the head shields in conse- 
quence no longer discernible with certainty. Where I have had any doubt, however, 
reference to Anderson’s description from the fresh specimen has cleared it up). 
I reprodtice Fayrer’s figures of this snake. From an artistic point of view the 
figures leave much to be desired, but the two most important and clinching character- 
istics of viperina (Schmidt) are well shown, and to my mind can leave no possible 
doubt that the specimen is a melano-viperina. 
Description.—The neck is about half to three-fourths the extreme body depth. 
Some of the head shields are very irregular in individuals, notably the postoculars, 
temporals, supralabials, and posterior chin shields. Rostral,—the portion visible 
above is about half (sometimes rather more or less) the suture between the nasals. 
Prefrontals,--touch no supralabial. Frontal,—twice to three times the 
breadth of the supraoculars. Fronto-parietal sutures twice as long as the fronto- 
supraoculars. Postoculars —two usually (in four examples one). Temporals-= 
very irregular, and usually broken up. (In four examples a fair ly well-developed 
anterior shield). Supralabials,—subject to much variation. Sometimes 7, 8, or 
g. Often one or more of these shields from the third backwards divided. The third 
and fourth, third, fourth and fifth, or fourth and fifth touch the eye. Infralabials, 
—four, the last in contact with three or four scales behind: the suture between the 
first, equal to or greater than that between the anterior sublinguals. Ma rginals,— 
one usually after the third infralabial (sometimes two). Sublinguals,—two fairly 
well-developed shields, the fellows of each in contact. (In five examples the posterior 
separated). Costals,—anterior 27 to 34 (usually 27 to 31), midbody 39 to 50 (usually 
39 to 46), posterior 35 to 45 ; imbricate anteriorly, juxtaposed posteriorly. Ventral s,— 
235 to 267. Entire throughout, anteriorly four or five times, midbody and posteriorly 
barely twice as broad as the last costal row. 
Habitat.—Persian Gulf to South China. It is remarkable that though not an 
uncommon species, no specimen that I have seen has come from the Malayan Archi- 
pelago. 
Colour.—This is very variable. Most specimens are adorned with from A LOR 
dorsal bars or complete bands. I eroeD the varieties as follows :— 
| Proc. Zool, Soc. London, 1872, p. 399 2 aiaratogh tna, 1874, plate xxv. 
