4 
209. DISTIRA. 285 
22. Hydrophis leptodira. 
Hydrophis gracilis (non Shaw), Cantor, Trans. Zool, Soc. ii. 1840, 
p- 311, pl. lvi. 
Head very small, narrow; body long, extremely slender ante- 
riorly. Snout strongly projecting beyond the lower jaw; rostral 
broader than deep; frontal very small, longer than broad, hardly 
as long as its distance from ‘the rostral; one pre- and one post- 
ocular; a single anterior temporal, followed by a second equally 
large shield; six upper Jabials, second largest and in contact with 
the prefrontal, third and fourth entering the eye; two pairs of 
small chin-shields, in contact with each other. 31 scales round the 
neck, 58 round the body ; scales smooth, rhomboidal, and imbricate 
anteriorly, hexagonal, juxtaposed and with a short keel posteriorly. 
Ventrals very small but distinct throughout, 483. Black, with 
yellow cross-bars on the neck and complete annuli on the body, the 
bars and annuli numbering 77. 
Total length 525 millim.; tail 40. 
Mouths of the Ganges. 
a. Hgr. (V. 488). Mouths of the Ganges. Dr. Cantor, 
This is the actual specimen figured by Cantor in 1840. Until 
quite lately it was preserved in the Museum of the University of 
Oxford. 
209. DISTIRA. 
Hydrophis, part., Daud. Hist. Rept. vii. p. 372 (1803); Wagler, Syst. 
Amph., p. 165 (1880); Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 488 (1837) ; Gray, 
Cat. Sn. p. 49 (1849) ; Dum. § Bibr. Erp. Gén. vii. p. 1341 (1854) ; 
Fischer, Abh. Naturw. Hamb. iii. 1856, p. 40; Jan, Elenco sist. 
Ofid. p. 109 (1863); Giinth. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 360 (1864). 
Distéira, Lacép. Ann. Mus. iv. 1804, p. 210; Dum. §& Bibr. t. c. 
p. 1829; Cope, Proc, Ac. Philad, 1859, p. 3846; Jan, J. c. p. 109; 
Giinth. 1. ¢. - 358 ; Bouleng. Faun. Ind., Rept. p. 407 (1890). 
Leioselasma, Lacép. l. ¢. 
Pelamis, part., Merrem, Tent. Syst. Amph. p. 188 (1820). 
Enhydris, part., Merr. l. c. p. 140. 
Aturia, part., Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 61 (1842). 
Aturia, Gray, Cat, Sn. p. 45 (1849). 
Chitulia, Gray, /. c. p. 56. 
Kerilia, Gray, l. c. p. 57. 
Hydrus, Gray, 1. c. p. 58. 
Thalassophis, part., Schmidt, Abh. Naturw. Hamb. ii. 1852, p. 75. 
ae Fischer, Abh. Naturw. Hamb. iii. 1856, p. 38; Jan, 1. ¢. 
p. 108. 
Maxillary longer than the lower aspect of the ectopterygoid, not 
extending forwards as far as the palatine; poison-fangs large, 
followed by 4 to 10 grooved teeth; anterior mandibular teeth 
usually grooved. Head moderate or rather small; nostrils superior, 
pierced in a single or divided nasal shield, which is in contact with 
