1872.] HIMALAYAN, AND OTHER REPTILES. 397 



Hydrophis which I have received from Puri differs in no other re- 

 spect from H. lindsayi. It measures 27 inches in length. 



Hydrophis stricticollis, Gthr. 



Head small, neck long and slender ; scales not imbricate ; thirty- 

 seven round the neck, having either one or more tubercles in a 

 straight line, tending to form an obscure keel ; the central tubercle 

 is the largest, the others very indistinct. On the posterior five 

 sixths of the trunk there is one central tubercle to each scale. The 

 ventrals are 385 in number, and on the anterior two thirds of the 

 trunk are twice as broad as the adjoining scales. They show a di- 

 stinct tendency to division, and are marked by a central groove, which 

 nearly divides them ; each half is marked by a central tubercle and 

 a very obscure one behind it. There are six small anal scales, the 

 middle one of the three of each side being the largest. Five upper 

 labials, with a scale-like shield behiud the last. The second upper 

 labial is. the largest, and touches the preocular. One postocular, 

 with a single large temporal behind, which is as high as broad, rests 

 on the scale-like posterior labial. Two pairs of chin-shields in con- 

 tact with each other ; fifty-one blackish rings round the trunk, 

 broader than the groundwork between them, not confluent on the 

 under surface, but running together on the back from behind the 

 anterior third of the trunk. Tail with eleven vertical blackish bars, 

 confluent on the under surface. 



Length, snout to vent 36" 6'" ; vent to tip of tail 3". 



Hab. Sandheads, mouth of the Hughli river; Bay of Bengal. 



Hydrophis spiralis, Shaw ; Gthr. I. c. p. 366. 



I have received what appear to be two young specimens of this 

 species from Pooree, Cuttack, measuring respectively 22 and 164 

 inches. The former has twenty-nine rows of scales round the neck". 

 The scales are imbricate on the trunk, with a central tubercle. There 

 are 332 ventrals, generally twice the size of the scales adjoining 

 them ; and almost all are undivided. The rostral, although it is well 

 prolonged upwards, is broader than high. The third and fourth 

 labials enter the orbit. There is only one postocular ; and of the 

 three temporals, the first is much the largest. Two pairs of chin- 

 shields, the posterior being only slightly smaller than the anterior 

 pair, and both are in contact. There is a black line from the rostral 

 to the eye ; but the rostral and the upper labial margin are yellowish 

 white, and the whole under surface of the chin and throat are of the 

 same colour. The upper surface of the head, from the frontals to 

 behind the occipitals, is blackish, but more or less spotted with 

 dirty yellowish, a spot occurring in the centre of the vertical and of 

 each occipital. A faint, short, blackish line from the angle of the 

 mouth either backwards or slightly upwards ; fifty-nine black rings 

 round the trunk, interrupted on the sides in the greater part of its 

 extent, but perfect on the neck. These perfect or imperfect rings 

 are broadest on the ventral surface, and on the neck they are con- 

 nected with each other by a black line running along the ventrals. 



