THEEE NEW SPECIES OF HYDROPHIS. 33 



Scales carinate mesially, tlie carina strong on the vertebral 

 region and breaking np into tubercles posteriorly ; laterally the scales 

 are feebly carinate. Scales T'ound the neck in 36 — 38 series ; round 

 the highest part of the body in 40 — 42 series. Ventrals entire, 

 twice the size of the adjoining scales and bituberculate. 



Colours. — Yellowish ochrey, with a wide black dorsal stripe, a 

 faint one on each side of the body, and a fourth one along the 

 whole extent of the ventrals — the lateral stripe gradually disappears 

 with age. Head black, with a horse-shoe shaped yellow band from 

 the frontals to behind and above the gape. Tail black. 



Length. — 30 inches, of which the tail is 2 inches. 



Hab. — Bombay Seas. 



I have much pleasure in associating with this species the name 

 of our worthy and energetic Secretary f Mr. H. M. Phipson, in whose 

 collection the first specimen of this interesting species was foundL 



Hydrophis guttata. Sp. nov. 

 Head longer than broad, scarcely distinct from neck; body stout; 

 40 series of scales round the neck, 54 round the highest part of the 

 body, and 17 on each side of the tail. Scales imbricate, keeled, each 

 keel interrupted in the middle; posteriorly on many scales they are 

 bituberculate. Rostral 5-sided, lobuliform below, with a deep notch on 

 each side. Nasals higher than wide, in contact laterally with the 1st 

 and two-thirds of tue 2nd upper labial ; frontals in suture on each side 

 with the single praeocular and posterior third of the second upper 

 labial; vertical hexagonal, pointed behind and rather longer than 

 its greatest breadth; each occipital as long as broad ; a large scale 

 between the furcation of the pair. Temporals three, the hindmost 

 largest; the first longer than wide, obliquely placed and in contact 

 with the post oculars and two large shields above the 7th, 8th, and 

 9th upper labials. Upper labials 9, the 4th and a subtriangular 

 shield above the 5th and 6th labials enter the eye. One prag and 

 two post-oculars. Superciliary one on each side, but mesially in its 

 upper third and grooved below. No chin shields ; 12 lower labials ; 

 two obliquely placed elongate shields twice as long as broad, below 

 the 4th and 5th labials, and a quadrangular one between the 6th 

 and 7th ; 19 scales between the 1st lower labial and 1st ventral shield. 

 Ventrals 265 in number, bifid, and arranged opposite to each other. 

 They are scarcely as large as the adjoining scales. 3 enlarged anal 

 shields ; 43 series of scales along the lower edge of the tail to the 

 terminal notch. 



