I. ON SEA SNAKES FROM THE COASTS OF THE 

 MALAY PENINSULA, SIAM AND COCHIN-CHINA. 



By Malcolm A. Smith, F.Z.S. 



Plate I and Map. 



INDEX. 



Hvdrus platurus pp. 4,35 Hvdrophis consobrinus pp. 20, 49 



Hvdrophis laniberti pp. 6, 36 H. fasciatus fasciatus pp. 24, 52 



H." godeflrovi pp. 7, 36 H. fasciatus atriceps pp. 25, 53 



H. cvanocinctus pp. 8,37 H. gracilis pp. 26, 55 



H. inelanosoma pp. 10, 39 H. viperina pp. 27, 56 



H. brui^inansii pp. 12, 40 H. jerdonii pp. 28, 51 



H. torquatus torquatus pp. 13, 41 Tbalassophis anomalus pp. 29, 58 



H. torquatus aagaardi pp. 14, 42 T. annandalei pp. 29, 59 



li. torciuatus siamensis pp. 15, 43 Enhydrina valakadyn pp. 30, 60 

 n. caerulescens caerulescens 



pp. 17, 45 Enhydris hardwickii pp. 32, 61 



H. caerulescens .thai pp. 17, 47 Aipysurus eydouxii pp. 32, 63 



IT. klossi pp. 19, 48 



^ INTRODUCTION. 



T 



This paper is based upon collections made during the 

 past seven years. The total number of specimens examined 

 amounts to nearly 900. In addition to those obtained in or 

 near the Gull" of Siam, I have been permitted Jlo study, 

 through the coiu'tesy of the Director of the F.M.S. Museums, 

 several fine collections made in the Straits of Malacca, 

 chietly olf the coast of Perak. I have thus been able to 

 compare large series of several different species from two 

 entirely different localities, and the results have been of 

 great interest. 



Most of the specimens have been obtained by native 

 coUecfors, working in conjunction with the fisher people. 

 Nearly all have been caught at river mouths, where the 

 water is slightly brackish, either by visiting the fishing 

 stakes set a short distance out to sea, at the time of the 

 daily haul, or by obtaining them from the nets or baskets 

 placed within the river mouth. The collections from Pulau 

 Angsa, oft' the coast of Selangor, from Bangnara, Patani, 

 from Hua Hin, and a small one made at the head of the 

 Gulf of Siam are exceptions to this. They were made in 

 purely salt water, the snakes being caught while trawling, 

 or in an ordinary hand net as they lay on the surface of 

 the water. 



Other means than the above of obtaining sea snakes are 

 less productive. Some species are attracted by a light at 

 night, and can be speared or netted. Enhydris hardwickii 

 I have often known caught on a hook and line ; and a 

 certain number are to be found left on the beach by the 

 receding tide. 



