274 COLUBRID. 
yellowish beneath, with black rings connected by a black ventral 
band in the young; a more or less distinct series of round black 
dorsal spots between the rings; head black above, with a horse- 
shoe-shaped yellow mark, the convexity of which rests on the 
prefrontal shields; end of tail black. 
Total length 400 millim. Grows to 1800 millim. 
Coasts of India and the Malay Archipelago. 
a. Ye. (V. 310 Indian Ocean, 
b-c, d- 
? 
2. Hydrophis polyodontus. 
Hydrophis polydontus, Jan, Icon. Gén. 41, pl. i. fig. 1 (1872). 
Head moderately small; body moderately elongate. Rostral 
broader than deep ; frontal a little longer than broad, as long as 
its distance from the rostral, much shorter than the parietals ; one 
pre- and two postoculars; a single anterior temporal ; seven upper 
labials, second largest, third and fourth entering the eye; a single 
pair of small chin-shields. Scales juxtaposed, with a small tubercle, 
45 round the middle of the body. Body with transverse rhomboidal 
black spots; head black. 
Habitat unknown. 
3. Hydrophis schistosus. 
Hydroyhis schistosus, ‘Daud Rept vip. 886 (1808 Bouleng. Fi 
is schistosus, Daud, Rept. vii. p. ; . Faun. 
"ind. Rept. p. 399 (1890). ey ree 
Pelamis schistosus, Merr. Tent. p. 139 (1820). 
Hydrophis nigra, Anders. Proc. Zool, Soc. 1872, p. 899; Fayrer, 
Thanathoph. Ind. pl. xxv. (1874). ~ 
Head moderate; body moderately elongate. Rostral broader 
than deep ; nasals about as long as the frontal, more than twice as 
long as the suture between the prefrontals ; frontal slightly longer 
than broad, shorter than the parietals; one pre- and one post- 
ocular ; two superposed anterior temporals ; seven upper labials, 
second largest, third and fourth entering the eye; two pairs of 
subequal chin-shields, posterior separated by one scale. 32 scales 
round the neck, 47 round the body; scales elongate-rhomboidal, 
smooth or feebly keeled, feebly imbricate anteriorly, juxtaposed 
posteriorly. Ventrals distinct anteriorly, 235-306. Uniform 
blackish. 
Total length 465 millim. ; tail 50, 
Bengal and Cuttack coasts. 
a. Hgr. (V. 235). Poorie, Orissa, Sir J, Fayrer [P.]. 
4, Hydrophis hybridus. 
Hydrophis hybrida, Schleg. Abbild, p. 115, pl. xxxvii. (1844); Ja 
Icon. Gén, 41, pl v. fig. 1 (1872). ee 
e Xe. (WV. 300,270, Indian Ocean, Ge MeGrigor (P.]. 
