42 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 47H Ser. 
anterior teeth only. It is reasonable to expect that when a 
considerable series of any of the species is examined a similar 
variation may be found. 
During the course of this examination it has been discov- 
ered that the palatine teeth of many of the species are grooved. 
The groove is on the antero-internal and on the internal quad- 
rant of the tooth instead of on the antero-external quadrant, 
as in the maxillary teeth. This condition was first observed 
in the type specimen of Hydrelaps darwimiensis. An exam- 
ination of a skull of Naja melanoleuca from Gaboon reveals 
the interesting fact that all the palatine teeth are grooved on 
their internal quadrants, and all the mandibular teeth are 
grooved on their antero-external quadrants. The palatine 
teeth are grooved also in the genera Pseudelaps, Diamema, 
Bungarus, Dohophis, and Elaps. In Dendraspis they are solid. 
Among a large number of marine snakes collected by Dr. 
Thompson at Cavite, Manila Bay, in 1906, are nineteen speci- 
mens which we are unable to identify with any of the de- 
scribed species of Hydrophine. This new species of Disteira 
we propose to name for the U. S. S. Cincinnati, to the crew 
of which the junior author is deeply indebted for much aid 
in collecting sea-snakes. 
Disteira cincinnatii new species 
Diagnosis.—This species is closely related to D. fasciata Schneider and 
D. brookti Boulenger. From D. fasciata it differs in being much stouter; 
in the narrow portion of the neck being shorter; in the lower average 
number of gastrosteges’; in the arching of the maxilla between the fang 
and first tooth, and the absence of an acute apex in front of the fangs; 
and in the less acute posterior angle of the frontal plate. From D. brooki 
it differs in the lower average number of gastrosteges; in the character 
of the scales on the sides of the body, which are mostly regular hexagons 
or are a trifle broader than long, where in D. brookii the upper and lower 
angles of the scales are very acute and the laterals are twice the size of 
the scales on the back. In D. brookwu the snout is much broader. 
Type.—Adult male. California Academy of Sciences, No. 15016. One 
mile N. E. of Cavite, Manila Bay, Philippine Islands. Dr. J. C. Thomp- 
son. December 20, 1906. 
1Average in twenty specimens of D. cincinnati is 361, while in twenty-six D. 
fasciata it is 417. 
a a ee ny ee oe ——. 
