74 ‘  OPHIDIANS. 
Pelamis.—The most common species of sea-snakes. Habi- 
tat, the Bay of Bengal, where it is called Kullundur. The 
only variety given is— 
Pelamis platurus, Linn. 
= bicolor, Daud, Giinther. 
Hydrus bicolor, Schneider. 
Hydrophis variegata, Schlegel. 
ss pelamis, a 
Pelamis ornata, Gray. 
Habitat, Pooree. 
Length 123’”._ Head flat, with a long spatula-shaped rostrum. Neck 
stout; nasal shields contiguous, pierced by the nostrils in their posterior 
edge; one pair of frontals; abdominal scuta 378 to 440; scales in 45 to 
51 series. Color variable. 
Giinther describes four varieties : 
First Variety.—Color back above, sides and belly uniform brownish 
olive; tail with black spots. Second Variety.—Back black, belly and 
sides brown, separated by a black and yellow band, large spots posteri- 
orly. Third Variety.—The black color on the back becomes narrow and 
sinuous behind the middle of the body; posteriorly a dorsal series of 
rhombic confluent spots, sides and belly with an irregular series of 
rounded black or brown spots. Fourth Variety.—Yellow, with about 
fifty brown, black-edged cross-bands extending to the belly, which is 
crossed by narrow, vertical, brownish-black streaks, alternating with 
the dorsal bands, some of which are confluent, forming a zigzag band; 
head yellow variegated with black. 
OPHIDIA VIPERIFORMES. 
This suborder has two genera, viz.: 
No. 1. Crotalidee, and No. 2. Viperide. 
