- = — . a4 a =] ~ “a or ss 
; Ri 
ti 
278 COLUBRID. 
the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals; one pra- 
and two postoculars ; two superposed anterior temporals; seven 
upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye; two pairs of chin- 
shields, in contact with each other. 25 to 27 scales round the 
neck, 35 round the body ; scales rhomboidal and imbricate on the 
neck, hexagonal and juxtaposed on the body, with a tubercle or 
short keel. Ventrals distinct throughout, 287-316. Black, with 
yellowish annuli, which are interrupted on the belly. 
Total length 650 millim. ; tail 60. 
Coasts of India. 
a. (V. 287). Bombay. Dr. Leith [P.]._ 
b. ri 316). Vizagapatam. Col. Beddome |C.].. 
11. Hydrophis elegans. 
Aturia elegans, Gray, Zool. Mise. p. 63 (1842). 
be dag 1 doliata, part., th Bot. B p. 51 (1849). 
elegans Giinth t. Brit. “nu $00 1. xxv. fig. K” 
(1864). » part., p. vb, Pp 8: 
Head small; anterior part of body slender, its diameter two fifths. 
the depth of the posterior part. Rostral broader than deep; nasals 
nearly as long as the frontal, more than twice as long as the suture 
between the preefrontals ; 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 and in contact with the prefrontal, \ 
third and fourth entering the eye; two pairs of chin-shields, 
posterior in contact with each other or separated by one scale, 
27 to 30 scales round the neck, 41 to 43 round the body; scales 
imbricate, feebly keeled. Ventrals distinct throughout, 350-385, 
Yellowish white, back with transverse rhomboidal black spots, which 
may extend downwards to form annuli round the neck ; transverse 
series of small black spots between the rhombs; belly with black 
spots or cross-bars, with or without a black streak running along 
the ventrals; head blackish, with a more or less distinct light 
crescentic marking across the snout, from above the eyes. 
Total length 710 millim.; tail 60. 
North Coast of Australia. 
a, Yg. (V. 385). Port Essington. Mr. Gilbert [C.]. 
e 
b. Hgr. (V. 350). Nicol Bay, N.W. Australia. Cre) 
e. Yg. (V. 352). Rockhampton, Queensland. 
12. Hydrophis pacificus. (Pxare XII. fig. 2.) 
Head small; body long, very slender anteriorly, the diameter of 
the neck one third the greatest depth of the body. Rostral as deep as 
broad ; frontal twice as long as broad, as long as its distance from the 
rostral, shorter than the parietals ; one pre- and two postoculars; a 
