220 



deep, in contact with four shields; nasal in contact with the 

 first and second upper labials; eight or nine upper labials, fifth 

 sometimes entering the eye, which is bordered by 8 or 9 small 

 shields; the anterior five or six labials well developed, the 

 others divided; chin-shields small, indistinct. Scales smooth or 

 obtusely keeled, in 19 rows; ventrals 156 166. 



Brown or yellowish with brown spots, forming irregular 

 transverse bars. Length of head and body 820 mm.; tail 1 10 mm. 



Habitat: New Guinea (Yule Island). Australia!. 



3. Aipysurus laevis Lacepede. 



Aipysurus laevis, Lacepede, Ann. Mus. IV 1804, p. 197, 210, pi. LVI, fig. 3. 

 Aipysurus laevis, Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Ill 1896, p. 305 (s. syn.). 



Rostral more broad than deep; praefrontals in a single row 

 of four or a double row of three or four, not in contact with 

 the labials; frontal more long than broad or broken up; 

 supraocular divided into two; parietals broken up; nasals 

 separated from the labials; one to three prae- and two or three 

 postoculars; seven to ten upper labials, fourth to sixth entering 

 the eye, if not broken up ; two small pair of chin-shields, both 

 or the posterior only separated by scales. Scales smooth, in 

 21 25 rows, vertebrals sometimes enlarged; ventrals 137 162, 

 sometimes with an obtuse keel posteriorly; anal divided. 



Brown, uniform or with small dark spots. Length of head 

 and body 1550 mm.; tail 170 mm. 



Habitat: Arafura Sea; Kei Islands!; Aru Islands; New 

 Guinea. Torres Straits; Cape York; Queensland; Loyalty 

 Islands. 



53. Enhydrina Gray. 



(GRAY, Cat. Sn. p. 47, 1849). 



Nostrils superior; eye small; pupil round; head-shields large ; 

 nasals in contact; a praeocular; noloreal; mental shield narrow, 

 partly concealed in a deep groove (fig. 85). Maxillary teeth 

 2 large fangs, followed by four teeth. Body moderate, covered 

 with imbricate scales; ventrals small. Tail strongly compressed. 



Distribution. From the Persian Gulf to New Guinea. 



A single species. 



