286 COLUBRID. 
its fellow; head-shields large; prwocular present, loreal usually 
absent. Body more or less elongate; scales on the anterior part of 
the body imbricate ; ventrals more or less distinct, very small. 
Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Persian Gulf to Japan and 
New Caledonia. 
Skull of Distira stokesii. 
Synopsis of the Species. 
I. All the scales strongly imbricate; ventrals usually in pairs and 
pointed, except quite anteriorly ; no chin-shields ; 39-47 scales 
round the neck, 48-57 round the body ; ventrals 230-267. 
1. stokesii, p. 288. 
IL. Scales on posterior part of body feebly imbricate, or juxtaposed ; 
23-42 scales round the neck, 32-50 round the body ; one or 
two pairs of chin-shields. 
A. Frontal shield longer than broad. 
1. Second pair of chin-shields, if distinct, separated by several 
scales. 
a. Two or three superposed anterior temporals ; ventrals 
200-300. 
Rostral as deep as broad ; 31-36 scales 
round the neck, 36-41 round the 
cess MMOD Mey ed ee bese ce 2. major, p. 289. 
‘wea 
