209. DISTTRA. 297 
two postoculars; two superposed anterior temporals; five or six 
upper labials, fourth bordering the eye; two pairs of chin-shields, 
in contact with each other. 25 scales round the neck, 34 round 
the body ; scales feebly imbricate on the anterior part of the body, 
juxtaposed on the posterior part, feebly keeled. Ventrals very 
distinct throughout, smooth, 317. Olive above, yellowish beneath ; 
neck with dark cross-bands, which gradually disappear on the body ; 
head dark olive, lighter on the crown. 
Total length 810 millim. ; tail 75. 
New Guinea. 
a. 2 (V. 3817). New Guinea. Sir E, Belcher [P.]. (Type) 
15. Distira pachycercus. 
Hydrophis pachycercos, Fischer, Abh. Naturw. Hamb, iii. 1856, 
p. 44, pl. ii; Giinth. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 878 (1864); Jan, Icon. 
Gén. 39, pl. vi. (1872). 
Head rather small; body stout. Rostral as deep as broad, 
nasals shorter than the frontal, more than twice as long as the 
suture between the prefrontals ; frontal longer than broad, as long 
as its distance from the rostral, shorter than the parietals; one 
pre- and two postoculars; two superposed anterior temporals; 
eight upper labials, fourth or third and fourth entering the eye, 
fifth divided, its upper portion forming a subocular; two pairs of 
chin-shields, in contact with each other. 27 to 29 scales round the 
neck, 38 or 39 round the body; scales feebly imbricate on the 
neck, juxtaposed on the body, with strong keels each formed of two 
tubercles. Ventrals very distinct, 258-260. Yellowish above, 
with feebly marked dark cross-bands, white beneath; upper 
surface of head and nape brown; end of tail black. 
Total length 930 millim.; tail 110. 
Malay Archipelago. 
a. 3 (V. 258). Malay Archipelago. Dr. Bleeker. 
16. Distira lapemidoides. 
Aturia lapemoides, Gray, Cat. p. 46 (1849). 
Hydrophis lapemoides, Giinth. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 375 (1864); 
Blanf. Journ, As. Soc. Beng. x\viii. 1879, p. 132. 
—— holdsworthii, Giinth. Ann. § Mag. N. H. (4) ix. 1872, p. 33. 
stewartii, Anders. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 399; Fayrer, 
Thanatoph. Ind. pl. xxiv. (1874) ; Murray, Zool. Sind, p. 390 (1884). 
: sees Stolezka, Proc. As. Soc. Beng. 1872, p. 89; Murray, 
. ¢ p. 398, 
Distira lapemidoides, Bouleng. Faun. Ind., Rept. p. 412 (1890). 
Head rather small; body elongate, slender anteriorly, diameter 
of neck two fifths to one third the greatest depth... Rostral slightly 
broader than deep; nasals shorter than the frontal, more than 
twice as long as the suture between the preefrontals ; frontal much 
longer than broad, as long as or a little shorter than its distance from 
the end of the snout, shorter than the parietals; one pre- and two 
