12 Journal of the F.M.S. Museums. [Vol. X, 



1919), is still of the same opinion. With a different scale 

 formula however, more strongly imbricate body scales, and 

 distinctive colouration (practically a brugmansi reversed), 

 there seems every reason to keep these species separate. 



I do not understand his remark upon the following 

 page (footnote, Journ. p. 433) , where he also contends that 

 melanosoma may have to be placed under cyanocinctus. 



Hydrophis brugmansii Boie. 



Hvdropliis brugmansii, Bouleng., Cat. Sn. B. M., P. 292 (1896) ; 

 idem. Faun. Malay Pen., Rept. and Batr., p. 184 (1912) ; Wall, 

 Journ. Bombay N. H. S., XXIII, p. 375 (1914) ; N. de Rooi], Rept. 

 Ind. Aust. Archipel., II, p. 233 (1917). 



Distira spiralis, Wall, Mem. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, II, (8) p. 208 

 (1909). 



Hydrophis spiralis. Wall, Journ. Bombay N.H.S., XXVI, p. 430 

 (1919). 



The natural habitat of this species appears to be the 

 coasts of India, whence individuals occasionally reach the 

 shores of the Malay Peninsula. Cantor obtained a specimen 

 at Penang and I have examined two more from the coast 

 of Perak. 



They agree entirely with Boulenger's description. The 

 scales round the body are smooth anteriorly, and have a 

 feeble keel posteriorly. The ventrals are smooth through- 

 out. One specimen (No. 1202) has no cunieform scales 

 between the infralabials, an unusual condition in this 

 species. 



Colour. — Greenish-yellow above, the dorsal scales with 

 black margins, yellowish or whitish below. 44 and 45 

 narrow black bands upon the body, the bands slightly 

 enlarged dorsally and ventrally in one, very indistinct across 

 the belly in the other. Head yellowish, posterior half of 

 tail black. 



Dentition. — Posterior maxillary, 7 ; palatine, 7 ; 

 pterygoid, 13 ; mandibular, 16 (1 specimen examined). 



Under brugmansi (spiralis). Wall has included some 

 eight or nine other forms, which as far as I am aware are 

 still considered distinct by other herpetologists. Only two 

 of them are concerned with this paper, namely melanosoma 

 and wrayi, and these I have dealt with in discussing the 

 former. 



Hydrophis torquatus Giinther. 



Under torauatus I now include three forms which 

 I have previously considered distinct. No other species of 

 sea snake that I have j'^et examined shews such distinct 

 changes, both in scalation and in colouration, within so 

 small an area. That variation should occur between series 

 found upon the opposing sides of the Peninsula, was to be 

 expected, but that two distinct forms should occur in the 

 Gulf of Siam, with only 350 miles of open sea between them, 

 was surprising. With a large series of each form however. 



