50 HYDROPHIS CURTA. 



Hydrophis Curta. 



" Head short, thick, obtuse ; anterior part of the body stout ; body 

 not elongate. The occipital shields are always divided into two or more 

 pieces, or entirely broken up into small shields. Two pairs of chin- 

 shields, separated in the middle by angular scales. Only one post- 

 ocular. Thirty to thirty-four series of scales round the neck ; 209-252 

 scales in a lateral series between the angle of the mouth and the vent. 

 Ventral shields nearly twice as broad as the scales of the adjoining 

 series, 156-160 in number. Four small pree-anal shields. Fifty to 

 fifty-three black bands across the back ; they are broadest in the 

 middle, nearly touching each other, and tapering on the sides ; the 

 yellowish ground-colour between them does not occupy more space than 

 the bands. Generally the bands do not extend downwards to the belly, 

 but sometimes they are continued as faint traces to the ventral shields, 

 which are white, or, in the specimens with larger cross-bands, blackish. 

 A more or less distinct yellowish streak on the temple. Tail black, 

 with only two yellow transverse spots at its root." 



