209. DisiiEA. 285 



22. Hydrophis leptodira. 



HydropMs gracilis {non Shaw), Cantor, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii. 1840, 

 p. 311, pi. lyi. 



Head very small, narrow; body long, extremely slender ante- 

 riorly. Snout strongly projecting beyond the lower jaw ; rostral 

 broader than deep ; frontal very small, longer than broad, hardly 

 as long as its distance from the rostral ; one prse- and one post- 

 ocular ; a single anterior temporal, followed by a second equally 

 large shield ; six upper labials, second largest and in contact with 

 the prsefrontal, third and fourth entering the eye ; two pairs of 

 small chin-shields, in contact with each other. 31 scales round the 

 neck, 58 round the body ; scales smooth, rhomboidal, and imbricate 

 anteriorly, hexagonal, juxtaposed and with a short keel posteriorly. 

 Ventrals very small but distinct throughout, 483. Black, with 

 yellow cross-bars on the neck and complete annuli on the body, the 

 bars and annuli numbering 77. 



Total length 525 millim. ; tail 40. 



Mouths of the Ganges. 



a. Hgr. (V. 483). Mouths of the Ganges. Dr. Oantoi-, 



This is the actual specimen figured by Cantor in 1840. Until 

 quite lately it was preserved in the Museum of the University of 

 Oxford. 



209. DISTIRA. 



Hydrophis, part., Baud. Hist. Hept. vii. p. 372 (1803) ; Wagler, Syst. 



Amph. p. 165 (1830); Schleg. Pkys. Serp. ii. p. 488 (1837) ; Gray, 



Cat. Sn. p. 49 (1849) ; Bum. 8f Bibr. Erp. G^. vii. p. 1341 (1864) ; 



Fischer, Abh. Naturw. Hamb. iii. 1856, p. 40 ; Jan, Elenoo sist. 



Ofid. p. 109 (1863) ; Giinth. Bept. Brit. Ind. p. 360 (1864). 

 Disteira, Laeep. Ann. Miis. iv. 1804, p. 210 ; Bum. Sf Bibr. t. c. 



p. 1329 ; Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1859, p. 346 ; Jan, I. c. p. 109 ; 



Giinth. I. c. p. 358 ; Bcfuleng. Faun. Ind., Kept. p. 407 (1890). 

 Leioselasma, Lac6p. I. c. 



Pelamis, part., Merrem, Tent. Syst. Amph. p. 138 (1820). 

 n-Enhydris, part, Merr. I. c. p. 140. 

 Aturia, part., Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 61 (1842). 

 Aturia, Gray, Cat. Sn. p. 45 (1849). 

 Chitulia, Gray, I. c. p. 56. 

 Kerilia, Gray, I. c. p. 57. 

 Hydrus, Gray, I. c. p. 58. 



Thalassophis, part., Schmidt, Abh. Naturw. Samb. ii. 1852, p. 75. 

 Astrotia, Fischer, Abh. Naturw. Samb. iii. 1856, p. 38 ; Jan, I. c. 



p. 108. 



Maxillary longer than the lower aspect of the ectopterygoid, not 

 extending forwards as 'fair as the palatine; poison-fangs large, 

 followed by 4 to 10 grooved teeth ; anterior mandibular teeth 

 usually grooved. Head moderate or rather small ; nostrils superior, 

 pierced in a single or divided nasal shield, which is in contact with 



