388 



LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



to science as JT. ocellata, the specific name being given because of the eye-like spots 

 along the sides and ornamenting the back. 



Of the family of HydrophidjE no representative has a wider distribution than the 

 yellow-bellied sea-snake, Pelamis bicolor. It not only inhabits the Indian Ocean, but 

 has been captured on the coast of Madagascar, as well as on the west shores of America 

 and as far south as New Zealand. On the Australian shores, numerous specimens are 

 stranded during gales ; the females, on dissection, have been found to contain as 

 many as six young, these often of considerable size. In the Australian seas it is by 

 far the most abundant representative of the family. It might be expected that a 

 species so cosmopolitan would offer many varieties in minor points of structure and 





p^^'S- *■ f 





— - SI 



Fig. 224. — Pelamis bicolor, yellow-beUled sea-suake. 



coloring, and this is the case. The first variety has the upper part of the head and 

 body of a uniform black, and the belly brownish olive, the tail with black spots. 

 These colors may be separated by a lateral line of yellow, which, in other varieties, 

 may gain possession of the lower portion of the body, or infringe regularly or irregu- 

 larly upon the black of the back. The length of three feet is not exceeded. 



SuB-OkDEK IV. — SOLENOGLYPHA. 



The fourth division of ophidians has been subdivided into two groups, the basis 

 for the subdivision being that, while the Old "World representatives resemble those of 



