1920.] Dr. Malcolm Smith : Sea Snakes. 23 



Hijdrophis fasciatiis, Boulcnger, Cat. Sn. B. M., Ill, p. 281 

 (1896) ; idem, Fauna Malay Pen., Kept, and Batr., p. 189 (1912) ; N. 

 de Rooij, Kept. Ind. Aust. Archipel., II, p. 230 (1917). 



Hijdrophis lepiodira, Boulenger, Cat. Sn. B. M., p. 285. 



Hijdrophis rhombifer, Boulenger, Fauna Malay Pen., p. 188. 



Distira fasciata (part.), Wall, Mem. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, II (8), 

 p. 205 (1909). 



Hydro phis fasciatiis as it is known at present, is said 

 to be distributed from the coasts of India to China and New 

 Guinea. The evidence for its existence in the Far East 

 is somewhat obscure, and it will be as well to discuss the 

 specimens which have contributed to the statement before 

 proceeding further. 



Hijdrophis lindsayi (Gray) . The type and only known 

 specimen is in the British Museum. It has 31 and 48 scales 

 round the neck and body respectively, and 452 ventrals\ 

 Its habitat, China, is vague, and Mr. Boulenger tells me he 

 does not attach much importance to it. 



H. fasciatus has been recorded by Boettger from 

 Manila, and also from Miyakoshima, Riu Kiu (Loo Choo) 

 Ids. The former specimen has been placed by Van 

 Denburgh and Thompson under their Disteira cincinnatii- 

 but, as I shall presently endeavour to shew, their snake 

 agrees so closely with the form of fasciatiis which is found 

 in the Gulf of Siam, that I think they should be lUTitcd. 



Stejneger has referred the Japanese example to Disteira 

 mehiiwcephala,' but presumably has not examined it. He 

 is probably right in doing so, l3ut its scale formula is so 

 near to that given by Van Denburgh and Thompson for 

 some of their Manila specimens, that in the light of present 

 knowledge it might be as well to reserve opinion. 



Stejneger's suggestion that nielanocephala may ulti- 

 mately prove to be only a race of fasciatus (p. 421), is not 

 in my opinion borne out by the example he has kindly 

 sent me. With its imbricate scales, those on the posterior 

 part of the body having more rounded edges rather than 

 the regular hexagons of fasciatus, with its 7 or 8 supra- 

 labials, and 7 posterior maxillary teeth, I believe it to be 

 quite distinct. Fasciatus has only 5 teeth beliind the poison 

 fangs, and this number appears to be constant. 



Hydrophis atriceps Giinther. The type is from the 

 Gulf of Siam, and it has 28 and 44 scales round the neck 

 and body respectively, and 3()4 ventrals. Such a scale com- 

 bination is very typical of the form which is found in the 

 Gulf, and diti'ers distinctly from the one which inhabits the 

 Straits of Malacca, and apparently also the entire Sea of 

 Bengal. The dit^erence is so marked that it is entitled to 

 subspecific distinction, and in choosing a name for it one 

 cannot do better than revive Giinther's. 



' For the scale formulae of H. lindsayi, H. atriceps, and 

 Cantor's specimen of H. fasciatus from Penang, I am indebted to 

 Mr. Boulenger. 



'Proc. California Acad, Science, (4), III, p. 47, Dec. 1908. 



' Herpetology of Japan, p. 422, 



