1872.] HIMALAYAN, AND OTHER REPTILES. 399 



oval lateral spots. The first fourteen black bands of the neck are 

 not confluent above, but are separated from each other by light 

 greenish-yellow bands half the width. On the posterior half of the 

 thick part of the body the black bands extend only halfway down 

 the side. The tail has eight black vertical bands ; and the tip is 

 black. The coloration is intermediate in this specimen to what 

 Giiuther describes it in the adult and young. 



Hydrophis nigra, n. sp. 



Neck but moderately slender, less than two thirds the length of 

 the body. Head broader than neck, but long and oblong, with 

 nearly straight sides, the preorbital breadth equalling the temporal 

 diameter. Snout moderately long, broad and rounded, and rather 

 spatulate. Rostral much broader than high (only feebly notched 

 on its inferior surface), its posterior extremity being in a line with 

 the rostro-labial suture. Nasals broader posteriorly than they are 

 long. The third labial is not in contact with the nasal, and it enters 

 the orbit, from which, however, it is almost excluded by the fourth 

 labial. One postocular. The fifth and sixth labials are divided 

 transversely. Two temporals, of which the anterior is the largest. 

 Two pairs of chin-shields, the anterior in contact, the shields of the 

 posterior pair separated by an azygos scale. Thirty-two rows of 

 scales round the body, slightly imbricate, and elongately hexagonal, 

 smooth. Ventrals 248; the first twenty-five or so sometimes as 

 large as the adjoining scales, which are rather small. They diminish 

 in size as they are traced backwards, but nearly all remain distinct 

 and undivided. Three pairs of anal shields, of which the outer are 

 the largest. Uniform intense black, without any true markings. 

 Length 19 inches, of which the tail is 2 inches; length from vent to 

 occiput T 7 ^ ; breadth at angle of mouth T \ ; breadth before eyes fV ; 

 breadth in a line with nasal suture ^-j snout to eye^-; eye to 

 angle of mouth 2| lines ; angle of jaws "to tip of snout 8 lines. 

 Hub. Puri, Cuttack coast, India. 



Hydrophis crassicollis, Anders. Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 

 1871, p. 19. & ' 



I have received another specimen of this snake from Puri. It 

 measures 57| inches, and is slightly lighter-coloured than my first 

 specimen, and with the transverse bands much narrower. The upper 

 surface of the head is coloured as in the type ; but the chin and 

 labials have a clear gamboge-yellow tint, and from the angle of 

 the mouth there is a distinct similarly coloured yellow line passing 

 backwards to the yellow longitudinal area of the side. The under- 

 surface, except where the transverse black bands occur, is a clear, 

 warm, yellowish white. I count 326 ventrals, and twenty-six rows 

 of scales round the neck. 



Hydrophis stewartii, n. sp. 



The neck moderately long and slender, and the head rather short 



