CHECK-LIST AND KEY OF PHILIPPINE SNAKES. 265 



dr. Head not remarkably small; diameter of neck more than half the 

 greatest depth of the body, 

 e'. Second pair of chin-shields separated by several scales. 



p. Two or 3 superposed anterior temporals Disteira omata (Gray). 



Iwahig, Palawan (Bureau of Science collection) . Coasts of 

 southern Asia to northern Australia. 



f. A single anterior temporal Disteira semperi ( Garman ) . 



Lake Taal, Luzon (Garman). Not known elsewhere, 

 e-. Second pair of chin-shields in contact or separated by 1 scale. 

 f. One postocular, one anterior temporal; head black above, with a 



crescentic yellow mark Disteira spiralis (Shaw). 



Manila (Jan). Found on the coasts of India and the Malay 

 Archipelago. 

 f. Two postoculars, two superposed anterior temporals. 

 (/'. Thirty-nine to 45 scales around the middle of the body. 



Disteira cyanooincta (Daudin). 



Manila (Jan); Cebu (Boulenger). Found on the coasts of 



the Persian Gulf, India, China, Japan, Formosa, and the Malay 



Archipelago. 



g-. Second upper labial in contact with the praef rontal ; 34 scales 



around the body; grayish with darker cross-bars. 



Disteira longiceps ( Gilnther ) . 



Manila Bay (Bureau of Science collection). Recorded from 



the Indian Ocean. 



e". Maxilla short; 2 to 5 small, faintly gTooved teeth follow the large fangs 



Body short and stout; scales polygonal, juxtaposed. Alternating trans 



verse bands of black and yellow Lapemis hardwickii Gray, 



Manila (Jan. Steindachner) ; Manila and Negros (Boulenger) ; south 

 em Mindanao (J. G. Fischer) ; Manila (Bureau of Science collection) 

 Found from the coasts of India to New Guinea. 

 6". Ventral shields large, 

 c^. Nostrils on upper surface of snout; nasals in contact with each other; 

 8 to 10 grooved teeth in addition of the fangs. 



Aipysurus eydouxii (Gray). 

 Philippines (Boulenger). Recorded also from Singapore and Java. 

 (f. Nostrils lateral; nasals separated by internasals; one or two small solid 



teeth in addition to the fangs Genus Laticauda. 



(J'. No unpaired shield between the prefrontals. 



Laticauda laticauda ta ( Linnaeus ) . 



Samar (Peters). Widely distributed along the northern and eastern 



coasts of the Indian Ocean. 



d'. An unpa,ired shield between the praefrontals. The largest of our marine 



snakes, reaching a length of more than 2 meters. Olive or yellowisli 



with broad, brilliant, black rings.... laticauda oolubrina (Schneider). 



Luzon (Peters); Jolo (Gunther) ; Palawan, Bantayan (Bureau of 



Science collection). 



'. Tail cylindrical. Poison fangs well developed Subfamily Elapinae. 



V. Internasal bordering the nostril; scales oblique Genus Naja. 



c*. Seventeen to 25 scales around the middle of the body, 21 to 35 scales 

 around the neck; rostral 1.25 to 1.5 times as broad as deep. 



Naja naja (Linna;us). 



