306 COLUBRID. 
ysurus australis, Sauvage, Bull. Soe. Brae (7) i. 1877, Pp. 1878, 
 Faleophis lubricus, Peters § Doria, Ann. Mus. Genova, xiii. 
p- 4 
Head-shields broken up into small irregular scales with numerous 
‘small granular tubercles; eye rather small, surrounded by 8 or 9 
small shields; rostral a little broader than deep ; eight or nine 
upper labials, fifth sometimes entering the eye; chin-shields small, 
indistinct. Scales smooth or obtusely keeled, in 19 rows. - Ventrals 
156-166. Brown, or cream-colour with brown spots on the scales 
forming more or less distinct cross-bars. 
Total length 930 millim. ; tail 110. 
Coasts of New Guinea and Australia. 
a. d (V. 165). Australia. eign ie Te 
‘b. go (V. 156), Australia. Esq. [P. 
e. 3 (V. 166). Australia. a parte t 
213. PLATURUS. 
Laticauda, Ae Syn. Rept. p. 109 (1768). 
Hydrus, part., Schneid. Hist. Siaok: 233 (1799). - 
Platurus, Daud. Rept. vii. p. 223 (1808) ; Wagk Syst. Amph 
(1830) ; Dum. § Bibr. Erp. Gén, vii, p, 1818 (1854); 0 Richer, 
Abh, Naturw. Hamb. iii. 1856, p. 27; Jan, Elenco sist, Ofid. 
r. 108 (1863) ; — t. Brit. Ind. p. 355 (1864) ; Bouleng. 
aun. Ind., Rept. p. 394 (1890). 
Hydrophis, part., Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 488 (1837), 
Maxillary much shorter than the ectopterygoid, extending 
forwards beyond the palatine, with two large poison-fangs ; 
one or two small solid teeth near the posterior extremity of the 
maxillary. Head-shields large ; nostrils lateral, the nasals separated 
by internasals; preocular present; no loreal. Body much 
elongate ; scales smooth and imbricate ; ventrals and subcaudals 
large. 
Kastern parts of the Indian Ocean and West Pacific. 
Synopsis of the Species. 
I. No ventral keel; ventrals 195-240. 
No azygous shield on the snout ; scales 
TPLIPOOWS 6.2 Fo bh 06s oko s 0 sHer 1. laticaudatus, p. 307. 
An azygous shield between the pre- 
frontals ; scales in 21-25 rows.... 2. colubrinus, p. 308. 
II. A keel along the posterior half of the belly. 
An azygous shield between the pre- 
frontals; scales in 21-23 rows; 
ventrals 178-198 ...:...eesse0s 3. schistorhynchus, p. 309. 
No azygous shield on the snout ; scales 
in 19 rows; ventrals 229 ........ 4, muelleri, p. 309. 
